In Which I Praise Friday Night Lights (the tv show)

If you follow me on twitter I'm sure you've heard me mention FNL (Friday Night Lights) sometime in the past month. Or maybe you heard Jordyn or Khyrinthia (among others) mention it or read one of the Friday Night Lights Week posts that Adele put together. Or maybe sometime a few years ago someone told you to watch the show and you just rolled your eyes, like I did. I am here to tell you, these people know what they are talking about and you are missing some seriously good television.

If you have no idea what Friday Night Lights is here is a bit of information from Amazon.com.

"...In the small town of Dillon, everyone comes together on Friday nights when the Dillon High Panthers play. But life is not a game; and the charismatic players, new coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), and the passionate fans find that their biggest challenges and obstacles come off the field in the compelling day-to-day dramas of their tight-knit community...."

Here is my argument of why you should watch Friday Night Lights:
(it's a mish mosh brain dump list so please forgive me!)

- You say you hate football, well I hate it more. You say you hate jocks & jerks, yup I hate them more. But I STILL love the show. It made me actually care about these things I hate. (In this one isolated instance, ha!)

- Watch the pilot, but don't plan on liking it, it's way way way too into football, but you have to get past it to see the rest of the show. You know, you might not even like the first half of season one, but stick with it and good things will come your way. I wasn't crazy about the first part of the season, it was ok but I stuck with it and now I can't get enough of the show. Gotta give the characters a little time to grow on you.

- I didn't touch my netflix for literally the whole month I was watching every episode available, and that has NEVER NEVER happened in the several years I've had netflix. NEVER.

-The Taylor family. Adele was right, this is the best depiction of a family on tv I've probably ever seen. Seriously, I want them to adopt me, let's get the papers going.

- Tim Riggins. A lot of people think he's hot but I think he's HILARIOUS.

-Matt Saracen. Just.... trust me!

- All the other characters. At first I wasn't a fan of a few of them, but now they are all fabulous, for their deep flaws or their pure goodness.

- You can stream the first 3 seasons of the show (they are on season 4 right now) for free on netflix.com if you are a member.

- I really don't know what to say, except please trust me and any other person that's mentioned the show to you and give it a good try.

After reading this post, if you are still not convinced go check out Adele's Friday Night Lights Week posts, they are what finally convinced me!

113 Things to Do by 13 by Brittany and Terri Macleod

Amazon.com:

Talk about drama! Your crush likes your BFF…you've got homework up to your eyeballs…the school mean girl is on the attack…a hot party is on the agenda and you've got nothing to wear. No worries: 113 Things To Do by 13 has all the deets on stuff you need to know now.

• Secrets to a sa-weet party look from Sephora's beauty pro.

• The best (worst!) OMG moments from girls just like us.

• The crush zone—four ways to tell if your crush is into you.

• A guide to which star is your fashion mate. Is it Vanessa Hudgens? Or Amanda Bynes?

• Tips to hosting the most rockin' sleepover ever.

• Stargaze with your astro-rific BFF and zodiac-celeb crushers.

• 4-1-1 on gossip, body stuff, cyber-bullying, money-making ideas and more.

113 Things to Do by 13 is a girly girl's guide to all things beauty, boys, friendship, pop culture and just plain fun. Brittany has written this book with the help of her mom Terri and has dubbed her age group "tweenagers", they aren't quiet teens but are just a few years away!

The book has a nice balance of fun and silly things such as pranks (your parents would have to have a good sense of humor to allow some of those indoors), astrology signs, and fashion shows mixed with a lot of serious issues like young people's changing bodies, doing your part for mother nature and internet safety. I think it covers a very broad range of issues but it's packaged to look like a magazine so it will definitely catch the attention of tweenagers and reluctant readers alike and expose them to some new things.

The book talks with a lot of current celebrities, which in a way will make the book dated in a few years but for right now, it's very current and will come off like a girl's favorite magazine. While the book would be best suited for a girly girl I think there is something for every type of girl in here, a lot of how-tos and ideas but also just general information young girls should have.

I think this would make a great gift (holiday or otherwise) for the tweenager in your life!

113 Things to Do By 13 was released on May 1st 2009
Genre: Young Adult, How-To
4/5 Stars
Review copy provided by author

This Week In Books Or BLACK FRIDAY!

Monday:
Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Eric Luper
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Both for review, All Unquiet Things from Amazon Vine.

Tuesday:

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

For review from Amazon Vine

Wednesday: nothing

Thursday: nothing

Friday:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko

Tundra Books sent me this as a thank you for being part of the Medina Hill blog tour.

Saturday: nothing

And since I did it last year, here is what I got in Black Friday or Pre-Black Friday deals!



Wednesday:

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Rachel Getting Married

These were from Borders for $4.99. This year they let their members shop on Wednesday!

Friday:

Gossip Girl Season 2
Up
Friday Night Lights Season 2
Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Went to Target mainly for Gossip Girl ($12.99) and Up ($13) and Sarah Marshall ($3.99) if they had it, but was so excited to find out that Friday Night Lights Season 2 ($8.99) was part of the sale too, that wasn't in the ad! Didn't have to wait in line for very long at all!

He's Just Not That Into You Zack and Miri (not finishing that title here, get enough spam!)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Get Smart
17 Again
Fanboys

I'm pretty sure I got the last copy of He's Just Not That Into You ($6.99) in Best Buy, I found it abandoned like someone had decided they didn't want it anymore! I really liked Zack and Miri ($3.99) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($6.99) so I was excited they still had them! The last 3-Get Smart ($6.99), 17 Again ($8.99), Fanboys ($3.99), I don't believe were in the ad so I was very excited to find them too!

I also visited Walmart and Blockbuster later in the day but didn't find anything I wanted. Some of these are also on sale at Amazon, so click the links if you are interested. I'm not an Amazon Associate at this time.

Lookalikes 77

Doing It by Melvin Burgess

Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair by Steven Herrick

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

The Insiders by J. Minter

Touch by Francine Prose

It's with lookalikes like these that I'm glad my pals in the twitterverse are out there. A few months ago I had seen Elizabeth Scott's new cover and said to myself that reminds me of something and eventually, can't remember how, with the help of Twitter I was able to realize I was thinking of The Insiders. Anyways in the process we came up with a few others. So, these all really go together but for mini-groups it's the first two, second two, and the last one is a free floater!

The first two look dated to me, colorwise and I like the coloring of the final three. I really can't pick a favorite, they all have things I like but one isn't exactly standing out for me.

Which do you prefer?

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

GIVEAWAY: Lips Touch

Now that you've had a chance to see my thoughts on Lips Touch, I'd like to give you a chance to win an ARC of the book!

If you need a reminder here's the blurb:

Amazon.com:

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers' souls:

Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today's savvy girls?

Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.

Hatchling: Six days before Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?

Here's how to enter to win an ARC of Lips Touch!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S.

The giveaway will end December 10th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

**This ARC has some of the artwork missing**

Lips Touch by Laini Taylor

Amazon.com:

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers' souls:

Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today's savvy girls?

Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.

Hatchling: Six days before Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?

Lips Touch is a tremendous display of imagination. I've read nothing like it before. Taylor draws from a very rich and vivid treasure box to weave together these three tails, and they are only accented by her husband and illustrator Bartolo's illustrations. With so many overlapping offerings in fiction these days it's refreshing to find something completely out of the ordinary in Lips Touch.

The three stories Goblin Fruit, Spicy Little Curses Such As These, and Hatchling cross space and time but are all tied together by the theme of a kiss. If I had to pick I think that my overall favorite it would be Spicy Little Curses because I felt it had the most complete beginning, middle, and end which is often hard to do with a short story. They were all very enjoyable though. I would have liked a bit more from the ends of the other two stories though and overall more dialogue, it felt a little heavy narration wise.

Regardless, I'm very excited to see what this duo comes up with next or on their own!

Lips Touch was released on October 1st
Genre: Young Adult
4/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

"Waiting On" Wednesday 58

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Amazon.com:

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This lovely and memorable debut by Alyssa B. Sheinmel contains many of the hallmark themes found in young adult literature—friendship, coming of age, finding a place to belong, and overcoming the death of a loved one. Emotionally moving from start to finish, The Beautiful Between introduces a strong new voice to the genre, a voice with a long future ahead of it.

Released May 11th 2010

This book just looks and sounds good. Secrets, friendship, New York City, tragedy. It sounds interesting!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Hardcover vs Paperback 56

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Original paperback

AmazonEncore Edition paperback

Amazon.com:

Anything can look perfect on paper. When her fiancé calls off their wedding at the last minute, Waverly Bryson wonders if her life will ever turn out the way she thought it would...or should. Her high-powered job in sports PR? Not so perfect. Her relationship with her dad? Far from it. Her perfect marriage? Enough said. To keep sane, Waverly makes a habit of jotting down "Honey Notes," her own brand of self-deprecating wisdom and a pipe-dream for a line of greeting cards.

As Waverly stumbles back into the dating scene (no stalkers or jean shorts, please), her personal and professional lives threaten to collide. Perfect on Paper reminds us that everyone has a bad date (or twelve), and that everyone eventually needs a best friend to tell them, “Honey, you are not alone.”

Perfect On Paper was one of my favorite books I read in 2008 so when I heard the book was being re-released by Amazon I was very excited, it's going to get into the hands of more people! Anyways, I was very excited to see what they did with the cover and now I know!

I never really had a feeling towards the original cover I just read the book and fell in love with the story but I do like what they did with the new Amazon edition. I think it keeps the spirit of the original cover but does it up a bit more. I'm glad they didn't slap a person on the cover, then it would have looked like everything else out there!

Hardcover or Paperback?

Thanks to Book Chic who showed me the new Perfect on Paper reissue cover!

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Amazon.com:

An exchange student who's really an alien, a secret room that becomes the perfect place for a quick escape, a typical tale of grandfatherly exaggeration that is actually even more bizarre than he says... These are the odd details of everyday life that grow and take on an incredible life of their own in tales and illustrations that Shaun Tan's many fans will love.

This book is an experience. Shaun Tan's mind, I don't even know how you would describe it and coupled with his extremely beautiful art, it's just mind blowing. Basically everything you've ever heard about Shaun Tan is true, he's a master and this book is a true gem.

The stories range from one page to several, from tiny simple illustrations to full page extremely detailed ones. I haven't read his book The Arrival yet, but Tales From Outer Suburbia sure seems like a masterwork to me. Even the Table of Contents which is usually very simple in books is extremely beautiful, it might actually be my favorite page in the book. It is a series of postage stamps one for each story.

While the stories explore a variety of situations and events they all carry this feeling of a beautiful and haunting imagination. Pick this book up now, seriously.

Tales From Outer Suburbia was released on February 1st 2009
Genre: Children's Book
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

GIVEAWAY: "I Will Make You A Feltie"

So, if you've talked to me lately you know all about my felties obsessed based on the book Felties by Nelly Pailloux, if not here's my review of the book.

Anyhow the response to the pictures of the patterns I've made has been overwhelming, you all think they are as cute as I do! So I'm having a contest, so 3 of you can each have your very own feltie too, made by me!

Here's how to enter to be one of three winners of the feltie of your choice!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S and Canada.

The giveaway will end December 6th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

Look below to decide which pattern you would like me to make you if you are the winner. The form will ask you to choose one (or pick surprise me! if you really can't choose).

"Mushroom Girl"

"Babushka"

"Hoodie Wolf"

Mouse (modified from "Pirate Mouse")

"Pensive Rabbit"

"Little Lion"

"Sleepy Fox"

"Polaro-roo"

"Vivid Squirrel"

Puppy (modified from "Sailor Puppy")

Felties by Nelly Pailloux

Amazon.com:

In Felties: How to Make 18 Cute and Fuzzy Friends from Felt, crafters and artists alike get the goods on how to make the cutest of the cute using felt and fun embellishments. With only the most basic of sewing skills, crafters can fashion their own Feltie friends with an average construction time of only 15 minutes per pattern. Each Feltie design includes a full-color photograph of the Feltie project at hand, as well as an illustrated instructional overview, pattern diagrams, and a convenient list of every item you will need to complete the project located in a handy sidebar reference section.

Feltie friends can be customized with limitless embellishments and morph into such items as finger puppets, key rings, or mobile phone mascots. The fun creations include Polaroo (part bear and part kangaroo), the wise Samurai Cat, sleepy bushy-tailed Foxy, bamboo-munching Panda, Egyptian Mummy Cat, Stargazing Rabbit, Babushka, and many more.

Now, Felties isn't something I was normally seek out. I'm into the cute but wouldn't really consider myself into sewing. But I happened upon it one day, noticed that it looked simple enough and became OBSESSED. I ordered the book, 2 weeks later it finally showed up, I went out that night and bought just about every possible material (cost around $40) I thought I would need to complete any and all of the patterns and set off to work.

I started off with Mushroom Girl because to me she was the cutest. And I will be honest, it was a struggle, i almost gave up, probably took me about 3 hours. It probably didn't help that I started with a pattern with a lot of embellishments. But once I completed that first pattern I realized it wasn't really bad once I got into the sewing mindset. And from there I went to complete 10 of the 18 patterns in the book as of now. I'd say right now it takes me probably about 1-2 hours to complete a pattern.

Since my sewing skills aren't the great I modified as I went, making things easier for myself and adjusting the patterns to work a little better for me. The book is very simple to work with and definitely has given me a lot of ideas as to how I could create my own patterns, which I would like to try sometime soon. The patterns are very very small but I think it would be very simple to enlarge them on a copier to fit someone's comfort level.

Overall this is a fantastic book that has introduced me to a great new hobby! I just wish there were more patterns in the book!

Felties was released on October 19th
Genre: Felt Crafts
4.5/5 Stars
Book purchased from Amazon.com

Here is what i've made so far:

"Mushroom Girl"

"Babushka"

"Hoodie Wolf"

Mouse (modified from "Pirate Mouse")

"Pensive Rabbit"

"Little Lion"

"Sleepy Fox"

"Polaro-roo"

"Vivid Squirrel"

Puppy (modified from "Sailor Puppy")

Stay tuned for an "I Will Make You A Feltie Giveway"!

This Week In Books Or Look At Me Getting All Chatty

Monday: nothing

Tuesday:

Raven Summer by David Almond

For review.

Wednesday:

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais

For a blog tour! I wowed this a few months back so I'm very excited!

Thursday: nothing

Friday:

Microserfs by Douglas Coupland
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Got these at the library book store. Has anyone read the Lunch Lady books? I've seen them around, they look fun!

Laid: Young People's Experience with Sex in an an Easy-Access Culture edited by Shannon T. Boodram

For review. This book sounds beyond interesting, I'm extremely excited about it!

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean signed coverflat

Holy crap is this cool! I won it in Sarah's contest a week or two back. I've gotten a few cover flats of books I've worked on but none as been as cool as this. It even has the inset page and some information about Sarah and the book on the back. I love the pearly finish of the cover!

Saturday:

Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

Earlier this week Khyrinthia told me that she and I (among a few other blogs) had been quoted in the paperback of edition of the book. A few days ago it wasn't in stock locally but now it is and I went out and grabbed it at Borders!


Fall to Pieces by Mary Forsbery Weiland

For review. I don't really know a thing about this book, do you?

Lookalikes 76

Thanks to Cat and Paradox who suggested this lookalike!

Private by Kate Brian (UK edition)

What I Wore to Save the World by Maryrose Wood


Oh boy is this tough. I really like both of these covers. The whole set of UK Kate Brian books are fabulous with the black and white photography and gold typography but Maryrose Wood's book series is also fabulous, I love when illustration is worked in with photography. So for me this is a tie.

Which do you prefer?

Have you spotted a Lookalike you would like to contribute? Send me an email!

UPDATE: 11/30/09 Both Sarah and Alyssa pointed out this third cover! I'm loving this cover and actually the other two in the series.

Star Crossed: Taurus Eyes by Bonnie Hern Hill

Update 5/3/10 Thanks to Samantha and Laina and Korianne for spotting these:

Winner of Blue Plate Special!

Congratulations to Jill of the O.W.L.!

I've emailed you so please respond by Monday November 23rd with your mailing address!

GIVEAWAY: Fallen

Now that you've had a chance to see my thoughts on Fallen, I'd like to give you a chance to win an ARC of the book!

If you need a reminder here's the blurb:

Amazon.com:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Here's how to enter to win an ARC of Fallen!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here. (Thanks to The Story Siren for the idea!)

The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S.

The giveaway will end December 3rd at 6:59 pm Central Time.

**This ARC has an Amazon Vine sticker on the back**

*** Everyone seems to be reacting to the cover, which sadly isn't on the ARC***

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Amazon.com:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

For being so long this book was almost too simple. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, I liked the characters, the atmosphere and the idea of what was to come. But when it played out I realized it happened exactly how I had expected minus one shocking turn of events. I feel a little let down because I was hoped to be surprised a bit more than I was, I was hoping it would lead to some big revelation I never saw coming, but I did see it coming and because of that there was no real revelation. Also I should point out that this story is of the slower variety that some people might not have the patience for, I really liked the pace though because the atmosphere created for haunting and beautiful passages.

I loved the variety of characters from mysterious Daniel, to flirty Cam, to loyal Penn, to wacky Arriane to all the other students and faculty. While I also liked main character Luce, and felt her shame and her confusion, I also felt like she came off as bit a bit of a fool. I wanted her to understand things quicker instead of waiting around while she finally figured it out.

The back story of Fallen is interesting and I can't wait until more of it is explained in book 2, Torment. I feel like Fallen introduced us to the world of Luce and Daniel and all of their friends and enemies and hopefully book 2 will get to the really good stuff!

Fallen will be released on December 8th
Genre: Young Adult
3.5/5 Stars
ARC provided by Amazon Vine

"Waiting On" Wednesday 57

Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Eric Luper

Harper Collins:

Seth Baumgartner just had the worst day of his life: His girlfriend dumped him (at Applebee’s), he spied his father on a date with a woman who is not his mother (also at Applebee’s!), and he lost his fourth job of the year. It’s like every relationship he cares about is imploding, and he can’t figure out what’s going on.

To find answers, Seth decides to start an anonymous podcast called The Love Manifesto, exploring “what love is, why love is, and why we’re stupid enough to keep going back for more.” Things start looking up when Seth gets a job at a golf club with his hilarious and smut-minded best friend, Dimitri, and Dimitri’s sister, Audrey. With their help, Seth tracks down his father’s mystery date, hits the most infamous bogey in the history of golf, and discovers that sometimes love means eating the worst chicken-salad sandwich you can ever imagine.

Released June 8th 2010

This books sounds like it will be heartfelt and fun. I love the idea of anonymous podcast too. It just sounds good!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Hardcover vs Paperback 55

The Sister by Poppy Adams

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com:

Born into a long line of distinguished lepidopterists, scientists who study moths and butterflies, Ginny and Vivien grew up in a sprawling Victorian home. Forty-seven years later, Ginny lives there alone, tending to her moths and obsessions amid the ghosts of her past.

But when her sister Vivien returns to the crumbling family mansion, dark, unspoken secrets rise, disrupting Ginny's ordered life and threatening the family's fragile peace. Told in Ginny's unforgettable voice, this debut novel tells a disquieting story of two sisters and the ties that bind-sometimes a little too tightly.

Wow, you know, I never knew what this book was about but it definitely sounds interesting. I like both covers but the falling doll on the paperback is distracting so it makes the hardcover the winner in my book. I think the butterflies are more integrated into the hardcover as well.

Hardcover or Paperback?

Have you spotted a Hardcover vs. Paperback you would like to contribute? Send me an email!