Sunday, July 31, 2011

This Week in Books Or Really, Recently In Books


My intake of books has been rather slow lately so I decided to hold off posting for a few weeks. It's rather nice because all that getting rid of piles of books recently really took it out of me so seeing them not pile up up again has been great!

Shelter by Harland Coben (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Craft-In edited by Kathleen McCafferty (Purchased at a local craft store)

New England Knits by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre (Purchased on KnitPicks.com)

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins + A Chance to Win Lola

Unless you are living under a rock you probably have heard at least a little something about Anna and the French Kiss. Maybe how squee worthy St Clair is or how it is the best type contemporary fiction out there. And you know I'd definitely agree with all of that. It was just a fun book but not a fun book you'd just brush off and go on your way, a fun book that stays with you. If every book had just a little bit of Anna's magic that would be a dream come true.

I really adored the setting of this book, boarding school in Paris, can you say jealous? I know I can. It sets the stage for Anna and what a beautiful stage it is. And St Clair, what a sweet character. I really think this book could become a wonderful movie. All the lusting these kids do it's crazy!

I'm going to keep this review brief but I wanted to touch on the very few things that bothered me in the book, I thought Anna cried a bit too much, I mean yes she's a teen, far away from home and going through some emotional stuff, but still. Too much. And the way something played out (vague to avoid spoilers), I wasn't so happy with it, but oh well.

Luckily I've had the chance to read Stephanie Perkin's next book, Lola and the Boy Next Door, the companion to Anna and I like it even more! Ahh Stephanie Perkin's has a gift and I hope she never stops using it.

Anna and the French Kiss was released on December 2nd 2010
Genre: Young Adult
4.5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher

Speaking of Lola, I have an extra copy I want to give away to one of you!

Here's how to enter to be the winner of an ARC of Lola and the Boy Next Door !

Fill out the entry form here.

Entries left in the comments of this post will not be counted.

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

You must be 13 years or older to enter this contest.

The giveaway will end August 17th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

I'm asking for your address straight up.  I will also email you so you know you have won. I will delete the spreadsheet once I have got the winner's information.  

Friday, July 22, 2011

GIVEAWAY: One Day Prize Pack

Anyone else really excited to see One Day. Truthfully I got the book awhile back and still haven't read it but I'm so excited by the concept of the book it's hard to believe it won't be at least a little awesome as a book and a movie!

Synopsis

Twenty years…two people. Directed by Lone Scherfig (director of “An Education,” Academy Award-nominated for Best Picture), the motion picture “One Day” is adapted for the screen by David Nicholls from his beloved bestselling novel One Day. After one day together – July 15th, 1988, their college graduation – Emma Morley (Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway) and Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess of “Across the Universe”) begin a friendship that will last a lifetime. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, key moments of their relationship are experienced over several July 15ths in their lives. Together and apart, we see Dex and Em through their friendship and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along. As the true meaning of that one day back in 1988 is revealed, they come to terms with the nature of love and life itself.

In theaters August 19th.



Here's how to enter to 1 of 2 winners of the One Day prize pack!

Fill out the entry form here.

Entries left in the comments of this post will not be counted.

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

You must be 13 years or older to enter this contest.

The giveaway will end August 1st at 6:59 pm Central Time.

I'm asking for your address straight up.  I will also email you so you know you have won. I will delete the spreadsheet once I have got the winner's information.  

The prize pack includes:


*Autographed* copies of the book (movie tie-in edition, paperback, signed by David Nicholls)
Clear cosmetic case
Necklace
Moleskin Journal


 Prizing values: $30.95 per pack
Giveaway provided by Focus Features

 
 Official Website
Readers Guide
Novel Featurette:

Friday, July 15, 2011

Lookalikes 142

 French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright

Similar setting with a different pose. Usually I like symmetrical things in my design but in this case the symmetry in The Forgotten Waltz is kind of boring so my vote goes to French Lessons. I also really like the type treatment on that cover.

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

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Weekly Dose of Crafts

Tami told me a few weeks ago about the Year of Projects and I thought it was a really neat idea! While I'm not really joining I started to make a list of things I would like to accomplish with my yarn crafts over the next year. This is my list:

Finish some WIPS (I have 23 right now) and specifically:
Finish 1 of my 3 WIP blankets
Finish 1 of 2 pairs of WIP socks
Make a pair of socks from Knit Picks Felici
Make a garment
Learn a new technique (like Entrelac or Brioche)
Utilize my books, magazines and booklets to make something (I have a lot)

Speaking of Tami, did you guys know she started a Raverly Group? And in that Raverly group we are going to do a Knit Along! I'm really excited!

Can I also say how happy I am that I am back to crafting!!! Onto a few WIPS, I'm working on a bunch of my existing WIPS but here are the highlights.

What's this purple thing you may ask? Well last weekend in a newsletter from a local craft shop that I love I noticed an upcoming class for a Knitted Tank Top. I've really been wanting to make a garment but wanted my hand to be held a little so this turned out to be the perfect opportunity. My first class was last Wednesday!

Yarn used:
Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted Cotton in Hycinth

 I received my stack of Berroco booklets a few weeks ago and 3 skeins of Boboli for this pattern. I started on it right away! I know it's going to take me forever and a day to finish but it's so pretty!

Yarn Used:
Berroco Boboli Bon Bon

A side note, last weekend I worked an entire color sequence on my Ripple blanket so I thought it was fitting to use it as a background here! I love how that pattern sucks up yarn!

I've been getting some new crafty magazines and such lately so I wanted to share a picture of some of that as well. Does anyone else adore Knitscene? I think it's my favorite Knitting magazine! Also last weekend I found out about this Mollie Makes magazine out of the UK and literally rushed out of the house a few minutes later to purchase a copy at Joann's. I'm sad I missed the first issue but I'm glad that Joann's will be carrying the magazine! 

I've been contemplating getting the KnitPicks Nickel set of interchangables, and luckily enough the store that I'm taking my garment class at carries some of their needles and notions and I couldn't wait any any longer and picked up a set!


One final thing, someone at work is having a baby very soon and we are having a baby shower for her so I thought it might be fun to make some bibs for her baby as part of my present. I'm not sure how many I will have a chance to make but here is the first one!



For more crafty goodness be sure to stop over at WIP Wednesday! And find me on Raverly as mint910.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Hardcover vs Paperback 129

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Hardcover

Paperback


Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange new girl in school, and the two soon become as close as sisters. Then Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate hold on Phoebe - but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon Phoebe discovers the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that they are from the faerie realm, here to collect on an age-old debt. And the price of that debt could cost Phoebe everything. But with the help of her friend Ben, Phoebe ultimately learns her own worth and breaks the generations-old curse.

I'm sort of torn on this one. I love the look of the Hardcover, a sort of down the rabbit hole look yet the eye contact on the paperback is fabulous. I wish we could have gotten that eye contact in the setting of the first.

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

Monday, July 11, 2011

This Year In Movies: June

6 movies for me in June.

No Strings Attached- Extremely predictable but cute. Fun seeing Natalie Portman in a chickflick.

The Tourist- This movie was kind of slow going but I adored the ending!

Tangled- I kept hearing how wonderful this movie was and thought I'd give it a try and it totally was!

Megamind- Also cute, reminded me a little of The Incredibles. Some laugh out loud moments.

The King's Speech- Finally saw this! It was enjoyable.

He's Just Not That Into You- Rewatch, I love movies that are told in vignettes.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

This Week in Books or the Long Winded Post


For some reason I have a lot to say this week!

Twisted by Sara Shepard (Purchased at Borders-I actually committed the ultimate betrayal to get this book... I went to Borders, my beloved bookstore and they had run out apparently they didn't get their full shipment and when asked if I wanted them to order it for me, I told them I was going to Target, I really wanted the book THAT second! I have started it and am still so giddy there are more books in the series!)

Love Story by Jennifer Echols (Requested Review Copy-I LOVE her books and it was funny, right before it showed up in the mail someone let me know I was quoted in it, it was the same quote from Forget You!)

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (Just Showed Up Review Copy-I sighed with happiness when I saw this cover, so much better than the US version)

Tighter by Adele Griffin (Duplicate Just Showed Up Review Copy- I don't usually show duplicates but it snuck in there.)

You Don't Know Me by Brian Meehl (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Welcome to Bordertown by Various (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge (Just Showed Up Review Copy)
My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher (Just Showed Up Review Copy)

Friday, July 08, 2011

Lookalikes 141

 The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (Paperback)

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

In this case I like the Forest of Hands and Teeth better (though when it comes to that series I much prefer the first attempt at covers, they were so beautiful). The focus of Never Knowing doesn't do much for me.

Thanks to Book Chic who also spotted this lookalike!

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

Sunday, July 03, 2011

This Week in Books


Cherished by Kim Hargreaves (Purchased on Kyarns.com I was so excited to find this since I believe it is out of print. I also got a nice big stack of Berroco booklets!)

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Just showed up review copy)
Dark Souls by Paula Morris (Just showed up review copy)
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