Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Amazon.com:

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

Along for the Ride is my second Dessen novel, the first being Lock and Key. I definitely think Along for the Ride was more enjoyable for me, I connected with the main character Auden a great deal more than Ruby in Lock and Key. Instead of just being a nice book it made me feel something.

This book has a wonderful message, it's never too late to live your life the way you want to and you are never too old for anything. I admittedly probably cannot ride a bike. I learned when I was young and had a nasty encounter with one in my early teens I believe, never touched one again. I really applaud Auden's determination to make up for the things that she missed earlier in her life when she was acting more like an adult than a child.

Another really interesting thing the book has going for it is what can two kids getting to know each other do in the middle of the night? Where can they go what can they see? I loved reading about Auden and Eli's routine they fell into. And Eli, what a sweet boy. I definitely can say I'm on Team Eli. I think most boys would never take the time to help Auden on her journey but Eli does. I loved how they both came to lean on each other and help each other through some tough times.

I really liked the secondary characters as well, from Auden's mom (I kind of hated her dad) and her stepmother Heidi and her little baby half sister Isby to the boys at the bike shop and the girls that worked at Heidi's boutique. They all helped her on her journey and really rounded out the story.

Since I've read only one other book this probably isn't saying much but this is by far my favorite Dessen book so! I'm excited to dig into her back list and find some other stories that really speak to me as well!

Along for the Ride was released June 16th!
Genre: Young Adult
4.5/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

The Painter From Shanghai Winner!

The winner of The Painter From Shanghai is nfmgirl!

Congratulations! I have emailed you! Please respond with your mailing address by next Wednesday!

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 39

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

From the Publisher:

Two superstar authors join forces on a collaborative novel of awesome proportions.

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens-both named Will Grayson-are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan's collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.

Released April 6th 2010

Well let's see here... two master of YA check, an interesting sounding plot check. Loving the cover as well. This should be GOOD! Maybe in the meantime I can read a few of their other books!

What can't you wait for to be released?

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

Hardcover vs. Paperback 37

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Paperback 1

Paperback 2 I just checked Amazon and it looks like this might have been an earlier discarded cover. Look below for the real one...

Borders.com:

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of todays bestselling teen authorsJohn Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myraclethe magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

The second Paperback is horrible just horrible. It looks like Target wrapping paper and this is the only time that I have ever referred to something Target related as horrible. It's just so BLAND! The original paperback is too cute and should not have been messed with. Case closed.

Which is your favorite?

UPDATE: 7/15/09:

Real Paperback 2

I didn't think it was possible but I like this even less than the discarded one I think. They should have just kept with the original paperback cover. I'm sure there is a reason they did it but I'm not feeling it. :/

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

From Melissa Walker's website:
This is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship.

She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name 'Party Penny.' Their personalities clash, big time.

But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can't Quinn keep her mind off Penny's friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?

One thing's certain: Quinn's in for a summer she'll never forget!

Lovestruck Summer has got to be one of my favorite summer romances of all time. I seriously squeeeeeeed throughout the whole book. Oh My God. I felt like Melissa Walker wrote this book for me. I totally and completely got Quinn. I'm sort of a music snob myself and could totally see myself in her. I don't do country music, I just don't. I'm sure I like a few songs that I don't realize are country but that is all. Also, I've never thought of a cowboy/fratboy as hot, never, until now. I really appreciated this book's message of not dismissing something or someone just because you think you should or because you believe the stereotype about something.

I loved the back and forth between Quinn and her cowboy/fratboy neighbor Russ. Holy heck was that boy as sweet can be! But no, Quinn is set on finding herself an indie/emo boy and sets her sights on Sebastian a local dj who might not be as good inside as he looks outside.

Then we have Quinn's cousin Penny and her sorority sister/next door neighbor Chrissy who at first glance Quinn writes off. And then there's co-intern Jade who comes off kind of cold at first. By the end of the summer Quinn will get to know these girls so well and come to learn a lot about herself and her beliefs in the process.

Ok, I could just go on and on about how much I love this book, but just really see for yourself. You will squeal and laugh and go aww about 1,000 times!

Lovestruck Summer was released on May 5th.

Genre: Young Adult
5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

Bookish

Here are some things I've come across in the last 3 weeks that I wanted to share...

Beautiful Creatures Trailer



Doesn't it make you want to read the book RIGHT NOW. Although I'm sure you felt that way before you even saw this trailer!

Shiver Trailer



Isn't this beautiful! I mean this stuff takes work! I'm super impressed that author Maggie Stiefvater made this herself. Gorgeous!

Forget Beach Reads. Darken Your Summer Days.



Cute little summer reading trailer from Penguin Young Readers. I'm totally not a beach girl so this made me laugh!

Burn This Book

I know a lot of people in the reading/blogging community are very interested in censorship and the thought behind it. Here's a book that was recently brought to my attention that might interest you on the subject!

Harper Studio:

Published in conjunction with the PEN American Center, Burn This Book is a powerful collection of essays that explore the meaning of censorship, and the power of literature to inform the way we see the world, and ourselves. Contributors include literary heavyweights like Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, Orhan Pamuk, David Grossman and Nadine Gordimer, and others.

In “Witness: The Inward Testimony” Nadine Gordimer discusses the role of the writer as observer, and as someone who sees “what is really taking place.” She looks to Proust, Oe, Flaubert, and Graham Greene to see how their philosophy squares with her own, ultimately concluding “Literature has been and remains a means of people rediscovering themselves.” In “Freedom to Write” Orhan Pamuk elegantly describes escorting Arthur Miller and Harold Pinter around Turkey and how that experience changed his life.

As Americans we often take our freedom of speech for granted. When we talk about censorship we talk about China, the former Soviet Union. But the recent presidential election has shined a spotlight on profound acts of censorship in our own backyard. Both provocative and timely, Burn This Book includes a sterling list of award-winning writers; it is sure to ignite spirited dialogue.

Antics In the Big Apple



Maureen Johnson is just hilarious. Enough said! And yes I still need to read this, what's wrong with me!

Sarahland

There is a really cool contest going on in Sarahland right now and it's interactive! You are supposed to upload a photo of a friend, family member anyone that you want to introduce to the world of Dessen holding up one of Sarah's books and why you want to introduce them to the world of Sarah Dessen and you can be entered to win two paperback sets of her books, one for you and one for a friend! Enter by August 1st!

Speaking of Sarah Dessen two of my lovely twitter pals helped me out when I was getting all confused about Sarah Dessen's boys. I've only read two of her books so this is mighty helpful! From Karen Healey we have this sweet flowchart! And from my blogger pal Mya this sweet Condensed Guide to the hottest of Dessen guys chart! You guys rule!

And finally Along For the Ride debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Another book I loved, Dork Diaries also found a spot on the list as well! Congratulations!

Traveling to Teens website

There is now a Traveling to Teens website (the blog is still around but it's for participants only) for anyone that is interested in learning more about it! Go check it out! Authors and bloggers interested in participating can fill out forms to learn more and get in touch with the masterminds behind the project!

My Soul To Lose E-book

For those of you like me that are excited about Rachel Vincent's new teen series, starting with the book My Soul to Take it's exciting to find out a free e-book prequel has been released by Harlqeuin. Check it out here! I downloaded it yesterday!

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival by Dene Low

Amazon.com:

You would think Petronella’s sixteenth birthday would be cause for celebration. After all, fashionable friends are arriving at her country estate near London, teas are being served, and her coming out party promises to be a resplendent affair. Everything is falling nicely into place, until, suddenly—it isn’t. For Petronella discovers that her guardian, Uncle Augustus T. Percival, has developed a most unVictorian compulsion: He must eat bugs. Worse still, because he is her guardian, Uncle Augustus is to attend her soiree and his current state will most definitely be an embarrassment. During the festivities, when Petronella would much rather be sharing pleasantries with handsome Lord James Sinclair (swoon), important guests are disappearing, kidnapping notes are appearing, many of the clues are insects, and Uncle Augustus is surreptitiously devouring evidence. It’s more than one sixteen-year-old girl should have to deal with. But, truth be told, there is far more yet to come . . .

This has got to be one of the strangest, cutest, most wonderful starts to a series I've ever read and I think I'm in love with it. The language, the characters, their behaviors to me everything was spot on.

Right off the bat we are introduced to Victorian manners and ways of doing things and then all of a sudden we find Uncle Augustus T. Percival having a bite to eat, a bite to eat of BUGS! His compulsion is just so hilarious, the way the author writes it, seeing him hopping around in the background grabbing bugs out of the air and such, it just never got old! That was probably my favorite part of the book.

Next we have this wonderful mystery of two very important people vanishing from Petronella's party and she and her friends and relatives take it upon themselves to help out the police to find them. Oh and did I mention that Petronella's Aunt and son and Great Aunt and two daughters show up to try and help sort out this mess but are basically in the way the whole time. They make for some great comedy.

And most surprisingly and most welcome too is a bit of romance in the story. Petronella's best friend happens to have an adorably handsome brother who Petronella swoons for, if only he would notice her as anything other than a sister. Let's just say I can't wait to see where the story picks up in the next installment of this series!

I would highly recommend this book for something a bit out of the ordinary. I was highly impressed.

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival was released on June 1st.
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult
5/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

This Week In Books Or Striking Library Book Store Gold Again + A Tapir Surprise!

Monday:

The Pact by Jennifer Sturman

After reading Jennifer's And Then Everything Unraveled I hunted down her first adult book on Bookmooch!

Tuesday: nothing

Wednesday:

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
A Good Indian Wife by Anne Cherian
Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella
6X: The Uncensored Confessions by Nina Malkin
Perfect Cover by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Killer Spirit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Backstage Pass by Mary Wilcox
On Location Mary Wilcox
Take it Off by J. Minter
Mates, Dates, and Sleepover Secrets by Cathy Hopkins
Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas by Cathy Hopkins

So went to the library (as if you couldn't tell) and silently screamed a few times I think when I was there. SCORE!

Thursday:

Piece, Love, and Happiness by Emily Franklin

I'm pretty sure this is out of print so I was really lucky to find this on Bookmooch!

How to Steal A Car by Pete Hautman

For review!

Friday:

This isn't a book but check out the SWEETEST TAPIR BAG IN THE WORLD MADE BY KATIE ALENDER! OMG! I'm totally trying out the eye pillow ASAP! Thanks so much Katie you made my day!

Saturday: nothing

Lookalikes 57

Toy Monster by Jerry Oppenheimer

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

While I do like how bright the eyes are in Toy Monster, My Big Nose wins, it's easier on the eyes. I love the pastels!

Which is your favorite?

Thanks to Liviania and pepsivanilla (and was there someone else, I haven't been updating via my email lately sorry, will add in later) who also noticed this lookalike!

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig

Amazon.com:

Susannah’s official boyfriend, Jason, is the perfect foil for her student lifestyle. He is ten years older, an antiques dealer, and owns a stylish apartment that prevents her from having to live in the seedy digs on campus. This way, she can take her philosophy major very seriously and dabble in the social and sexual freedom of 1970s university life. But circumstances become more complicated than Susannah would like when she begins to have an affair with her tutorial partner, Rob. Soon she is dating two men, missing her lectures, exploring Independence and feminism with her girlfriends, and finding herself in a particularly impossible dilemma: she becomes pregnant. Forced to look beyond her friends and lovers for support, she finds help and inspiration from the lessons of Kierkegaard and other European philosophers.

A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy is a delightfully insightful, bittersweet coming-of-age romp, in which love is far from platonic and the mind—body predicament a pressing reality. It even succeeds where many introductions to philosophy have failed, by effortlessly bringing to life the central tenets of the most important European philosophers of modern times.

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy was just ok to me. I think before deciding to read it I should have considered the fact that the word "Philosophy" was in the title a bit more than I did. I think if I appreciated Philosophy a bit more than I do I would have enjoyed it more.

I found the story to be rather slow moving for me. I thought the idea of Susannah trying to balance two relationships, school, and growing up would be enough to grab my attention but still I had troubles enjoying it. I think part of it was that I didn't really like any of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I didn't really dislike any of them I just didn't really find myself attached to them either.

While I did have some troubles with the book there were also some rather enjoyable passages for me. I especially liked when Susannah was first getting to know her classmate Rob and they would just sit around and chat for hours. I really liked those parts.

I'm not spoiling anything for you by saying that an accidental pregnancy comes to play in the book. I found that an interesting dilemma, Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice. I kind of liked going through the thought process with her but at the same time it kind of stressed me out. To me that's one of life's biggest questions.

Overall an interesting coming-of-age novel, especially for those interested in Philosophy. While maybe it wasn't for me, I can see how others could definitely find it very interesting.

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy on May 12th.
Genre: Adult
2.5/5 Stars
ARC provided by Amazon Vine

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 38

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

From Amazon.com:

A thrilling and original coming of- age novel about a young man practicing magic in the real world

Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A senior in high school, he’s still secretly preoccupied with a series of fantasy novels he read as a child, set in a magical land called Fillory. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the craft of modern sorcery.

He also discovers all the other things people learn in college: friendship, love, sex, booze, and boredom. Something is missing, though. Magic doesn’t bring Quentin the happiness and adventure he dreamed it would. After graduation he and his friends make a stunning discovery: Fillory is real. But the land of Quentin’s fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he could have imagined. His childhood dream becomes a nightmare with a shocking truth at its heart.

At once psychologically piercing and magnificently absorbing, The Magicians boldly moves into uncharted literary territory, imagining magic as practiced by real people, with their capricious desires and volatile emotions. Lev Grossman creates an utterly original world in which good and evil aren’t black and white, love and sex aren’t simple or innocent, and power comes at a terrible price.

Released August 11th 2009

This sounds like an interesting mix of magic and real life. I'm a huge sucker for college stories, I'm pretty sure I miss college lol. I'm smacking myself on the forehead for not picking up a copy at BEA now!

What can't you wait for to be released?

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

TMI Signed Copy Winner!

The winner of the signed copy of TMI is kalea_kane!

Congratulations! I have emailed you, please send me your address by next Tuesday!

Hardcover vs. Paperback 36

Paper Towns by John Green

Hardcover(s)

Paperback

Australian Edition

Borders.com:

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the nightdressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revengehe follows her. Margos always planned extravagantly, and, until now, shes always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they're for Q.Printz Medalist John Green returns with the trademark brilliant wit and heart-stopping emotional honesty that have inspired a new generation of readers.

Still haven't read this (as of April 19th 2009) and I really shouldn't have put the Australian edition into the mix because that cover blows the rest out of the water, but I just had to! I think they are all well done but of course wish I had the AU edition! I'm curious to see what the significance of the paperback is once I read it, just as is it's my least favorite of all of them.

Which is your favorite?

GIVEAWAY: Tempo Change

Now that you've read my review of Tempo Change by Barbara Hall, I'd love to give you a chance to win your very own hardcover copy of the book!

If you need a reminder here is some information about the book:

Amazon.com:

It’s tough enough defining your identity—imagine if your father was a rock legend.

Blanche Kelly's dad is a famous indie rock icon, but not many people at the private school she attends on scholarship know this. Her father left when she was in the first grade, and she can’t quite forgive her mom for not understanding that an artist like her dad needs the time and space to connect to his muse.

When Blanche creates an all-girl rock band, their sound captures a wide audience and the band is invited to compete at the Coachella Music Festival. Blanche feels this could be the perfect time for a reunion with her father. Won’t he be proud to hear her band? Won’t he be happy to get to know his only daughter?

Author Barbara Hall sensitively explores the expectations between parents and teens, as well as the value of learning about your past to make your own future.

Onto the rules!

To win a hardcover copy of Tempo Change leave a comment sharing your song of this summer, title and artist and why!

For 1 additional entry post/blog about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you have done so.

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

Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

The giveaway will end July 20th at 11:59 pm Central Time.

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall

Amazon.com:

It’s tough enough defining your identity—imagine if your father was a rock legend.

Blanche Kelly's dad is a famous indie rock icon, but not many people at the private school she attends on scholarship know this. Her father left when she was in the first grade, and she can’t quite forgive her mom for not understanding that an artist like her dad needs the time and space to connect to his muse.

When Blanche creates an all-girl rock band, their sound captures a wide audience and the band is invited to compete at the Coachella Music Festival. Blanche feels this could be the perfect time for a reunion with her father. Won’t he be proud to hear her band? Won’t he be happy to get to know his only daughter?

Author Barbara Hall sensitively explores the expectations between parents and teens, as well as the value of learning about your past to make your own future.

I really liked the main character, Blanche's voice. She's spunky, sarcastic and she speaks her mind. She is what she is and she seems fine with it. She has a unique perspective.

One of my favorite things about this book was Blanche's journey to Coachella and meeting her father again. In the form of creating a band called the Fringers from girls she plucked from different parts of her life (her friend, a girl with a wonderful voice in her choir class, and a girl she works with but never really knew). She brings them together and creates what looks a really awesome band. I love the whole scene that they get thrust into and how they bond as a group and become friends and what it helps Blanche learn about herself.

My other favorite thing was Blanche's family. Her and her mother trying to cope with her father leaving when she was six, why did he leave, would he ever come back? And also Blanche trying to get used to a new man in her mother's life, one that also might have some insight to offer her.
I thought Blanche's reunion with her father was an interesting one, I found it rather honest.

About half way through the book there is a strange twist that sort of takes the attention away from Blanche. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It was interesting but at the same time I think I could have done without it and spent a little bit more time with Blanche just being Blanche. So there's that.

Overall I found this book to be pretty unique and enjoyable!

Tempo Change was released June 9th.
Genre: Young Adult
4.5/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Amazon.com: 16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

If I could be on Selkie Island I would never want summer to end. What a history of sea creatures, heirs and southern hospitality this island has. Magnificent.

I loved Miranda, me and her, we'd get along. It was tough watching her struggle to fit in with the other girls on the island, the southern belles. But it was nice seeing her find a little group to hang out with. I really liked that she wasn't dropped into the story and she had this nice backstory of a boy that had once been more than a friend and a best friend that was no longer even a friend. It made Miranda seem more realistic.

Like others have said it would have been nice to just have a touch more about the mermaid/merman lore of the island, it was hinted at repeatedly but nothing ever was for sure. I wanted that for sureness. But I found Miranda and Leo's summer love really fun and interesting. I do wonder if their story will continue?

I also loved Miranda's family history, her parents story, her grandmother's story, that definitely helped take the story to another level. It helped create this beautiful world for the characters to exist in. This is definitely a wonderful summer story!

Sea Change was released June 1st.
Genre: Young Adult
4/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher

Mitali, I Accept Your Counter-Challenge!

This is the challenge that started it all! Mitali's Bollywood Challenge for me! Yayyyz! We are starting both of our challenges July 10th and it will be a race! Whoever loses the race has to watch a crappy movie of the other's choice!

Mitali's Bollywood Challenge! (starts 7/10-race)

1. Dhadkan
2. Dhoom 2
3. Kal Ho Naa Ho
4. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
5. Yuva
6. Gangster
7. Jab We Met
8. Taare Zameen Par
9. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
10. Hera Pheri

To join in the fun visit the I Dare You Challenge blog!

This Week In Books Or My Very Own Book Fairy + Can You Say Stress Purchasing?

Monday:

Broken by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry

This came from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Program!

Tuesday:

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart

For review.

Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin
Riding the Universe by Gaby Triana
Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor
Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart
The One by Ed Decter
Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Gorgeous by Rachel Vail
Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty
Hancock Park by Isabel Kaplan
Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
I Like You by Amy Sedaris

I had a Book Fairy visit at about 10:30 at night, not really, i just realized the Book Fairy had visited after the normal mail arrived, I guess the post office makes a special trip for Book Fairies!

Wednesday: nothing

Thursday:

Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger
Everything You Want by Barbara Shoup
Wish You Were Here by Barbara Shoup
Mud Girl by Alison Acheson
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Finishing Touches by Deanna Kizis
The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee
The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Prom Anonymous by Blake Nelson
Hazing Meri Sugarman by M. Apostolina
Meri Strikes Back by M. Apostolina
Immortal by Gillian Shields
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Freaks: Alive, on the Inside! by Annette Curtis Klause
Lost and Found by Jacqueline Sheehan
Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip

So... if you recall last week was the $2 grocery bag sale at the library. The place was wiped clean, which means this week all their inventory was new, and I saw what I liked, A LOT!

Notes From the Dog by Gary Paulsen

Came for review.

Friday:

Almost 5'4" by Isobella Jade

Came for review.

Rebecca, I accept your dare and I counter-challenge you!

Rebecca has challenged me (and in the process challenged herself making this list) to watch 10 Movies I Haven't Already Seen by July 2nd 2010. If I fail in this challenge I must participate in another dare of her choice. If I succeed in this challenge she must participate in another dare of my choice.

Here's her list!

1. Water
2. Provoked
3. Brokedown Palace
4. La Dolce Vita
5. The Shawshank Redemption
6. Six Days and Seven Nights
7. Wait Until Dark
8. The Philadelphia Story
9. He's Just Not That Into You
10. Ramen Girl

And here is your counter-challenge Rebecca! Do you accept, same rules!

9 Cheesy 80s movies + 1 Freebie of your choice!

1. The Sure Thing
2. Valley Girl
3. Sixteen Candles
4. Girls Just Want to Have Fun
5. Clue
6. Clifford
7. Overboard
8. Some Kind of Wonderful
9. Pretty In Pink
10. Freebie of Your Choice

To join in the fun visit the I Dare You Challenge blog!

OMGGGGGG or where I post all my I Dare You Challenges in One Place!

I decided I needed one post to refer to when working on my I Dare You Challenges and this is it!

MOVIES:

Sharon’s Classic movies you must see before you die (race-ending July 15th 2010)

1. The Night of the Living Dead- 1968 version
2. Casablanca-1942 Shame on you for never watching this! I dare you to watch it at least twice.
3. Double Indemnity- 1944 one of the best film noirs ever
4. The Women- 1939 version watched 7/28/09
5. Bringing up Baby-1938 watched 8/2/09
6. Strangers on a Train-1951 Hitchcock baby!
7. Gilda- 1946 Rita Hayworth at her finest
8. Touch of Evil-1958 Orsen Wells

9 Movies Decided by Tiff! (complete by Oct 25th)

1. Away We Go watched 10/4/09
2. Before Sunrise watched 7/17/09
3. Before Sunset watched 7/19/09
4. Singin' in the Rain
5. Newsies watched 8/15/09
6. Avalon
7. Sunshine Cleaning watched 8/25/09
8. The Little Princess [one of my childhood faves!] watched 9/5/09
9. I saved the best for last... White Christmas - my all-time favorite movie :) watched 8/21/09

Rebecca's, I DARE YOU TO WATCH THESE 10 MOVIES THAT YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY WATCHED!!! (hehe) (complete by July 10th 2010)

1. Water
2. Provoked
3. Brokedown Palace watched 7/10/09
4. La Dolce Vita watched 8/30/09
5. The Shawshank Redemption
6. Six Days and Seven Nights
7. Wait Until Dark
8. The Philadelphia Story
9. He's Just Not That Into You watched 9/11/09
10. Ramen Girl watched 7/11/09

Mitali's Bollywood Challenge! (starts 7/10-race)

1. Dhadkan watched 8/16/09
2. Dhoom 2 watched 8/28/09
3. Kal Ho Naa Ho watched 8/2/09
4. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
5. Yuva watched 9/13/09
6. Gangster
7. Jab We Met watched 7/28/09
8. Taare Zameen Par
9. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na watched 7/17/09
10. Hera Pheri watched 7/11/09

BOOKS:

Michelle's Super Fluffy Chick-Lit Novels Challenge! (read 4/8 by Dec 31st 2009)

1. The Bachelorette Party - McCullah-Lutz
2. How To Sleep With a Movie Star - Harmel
3. The Art of French Kissing - Harmel
4. Something Borrowed - Giffin
5. Something Blue - Giffin
6. Room For Love - Meyer
7. I Did But I Wouldn’t Now - Lockwood
8. Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict - Rigler

Tiff, I Accept Your Challenge!

Tiff has challenged me (and in the process challenged herself making this list) to watch 9 great movies by October 9th! If I fail in this challenge I must send her a YA book that she hasn't read and I have a loved! But if I succeed then she will send me a book!

Here's the list!

9 great movies as decided by Tiff
[please note: Alea has seen almost every movie I have ever seen! It took me hours to find 9 that she hadn't!]

1. Away We Go
2. Before Sunrise
3. Before Sunset
4. Singin' in the Rain
5. Newsies
6. Avalon
7. Sunshine Cleaning
8. The Little Princess [one of my childhood faves!]
9. I saved the best for last... White Christmas - my all-time favorite movie :)

To join in the fun visit the I Dare You Challenge blog!

Michelle, I Accept Your Challenge and dare you to take mine!

Michelle/Galleysmith has challenged me to read 4 of these 8 super fluffy chick-lit novels by December 31, 2009 at 11:59 pm EST. And if I fail in this challenge I must you must do a guest post (topic of her choice) on my blog. (Oh boy that might be my first guest post!) But if I succeed then she will publish a blog post on a topic of my choice on a blog of my choosing.

1. The Bachelorette Party - McCullah-Lutz
2. How To Sleep With a Movie Star - Harmel
3. The Art of French Kissing - Harmel
4. Something Borrowed - Giffin
5. Something Blue - Giffin
6. Room For Love - Meyer
7. I Did But I Wouldn’t Now - Lockwood
8. Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict - Rigler

I'm going take her challenge and counter challenge with my own!

Michelle, I dare you to accept this challenge!

I dare you to read at least 4 of these 8 fabulous Young Adult books (though I triple dog dare you to tackle them all!)

1. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
2. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
3. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
4. A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
5. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers
6. Willow by Julia Hoban
7. The Season by Sarah MacLean
8. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

I'm going to use the same rules and punishments you suggested because I think it will be fun that way! Michelle, do you accept!

To join in the fun visit the I Dare You Challenge blog!

Lookalikes 56

The September Sisters by Jillian Canton

The Immortal by Gillian Shields

Hmm... this is a hard one for me because I'm in about equal amounts of dislike with these covers, The September Sister's slightly more so. I think it's the yellow title and blue on blue. It's just not doing it for me. And while the colors are slightly better on Immortal I'm not fond of that business happening up on the top, just weird.

Which do you prefer?

Thanks to Yan and Tirzah for suggesting this lookalike!

Sharon, Here's Your Counter-challenge!

Sharon, I will agree to your ground rules of starting July 15th and all this tapir business if you go for my list!

Said Tapir Business from Sharon:

If you beat me in this challenge I must post a blog confessing my love of all things tapir and never ever insult them again.

But if I beat you then you must post a blog entry about how disgusting tapirs are.

Here's your list!

10 Must See Fluff Movies:
1. Confessions of a Shopaholic Uptown Girls- remember no cheating Sharon!
2. Bride and Prejudice
3. The Jane Austen Book Club
4. Priceless (gotta have a French one!)
5. Penelope
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
7. Mannequin (Cheese straight from the 80s)
8. Just Friends
9. Josie and the Pussycats
10. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Check out the I Dare You Challenge Blog for more info!

Sharon, I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE!

We're off! Literally minutes after launching the I Dare You to Accept This Challenge I've got my first challenge, from Sharon!

Here's what Sharon had to say:

Alea, I dare you to accept this challenge. And I'm also challenging you to a race, starting July 15 because, I like the number 15th!

Classic movies you must see before you die:

1. The Night of the Living Dead- 1968 version
2. Casablanca-1942 Shame on you for never watching this! I dare you to watch it at least twice.
3. Double Indemnity- 1944 one of the best film noirs ever
4. The Women- 1939 version
5. Bringing up Baby-1938
6. Strangers on a Train-1951 Hitchcock baby!
7. Gilda- 1946 Rita Hayworth at her finest
8. Touch of Evil-1958 Orsen Wells <3
9. Top Hat-1935
10. The Day the Earth Stood Still- 1951 last year's version sucked @$$

Check out the I Dare You Challenge Blog and also feel free to ask any questions!

Mitali, I DARE YOU TO ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE!

If you are wondering what the heck I'm talking about in this post please refer to this post/blog for all the details. This is something that Me, Mitali, and Irish kind of thought up one day on twitter! Let the games begin! And please join in!

1. Snag the snazzy I Dare You to Accept This Challenge Logo and create your dare using the following format:

Mitali, I dare you to accept this challenge. And I'm also challenging you to a race, starting July 10th!

TEN OF ALEA'S MUST-SEE MOVIES! (tell me if you've seen any already & i will replace them!)

1. Amelie Persepolis
2. Garden State
3. Empire Records
4. Ghost World
5. The Royal Tenebaums
6. Napoleon Dynamite
7. Music From Another Room
8. The Breakfast Club
9. You, Me and Everyone We Know
10. Waitress

This challenge must be completed by July 2nd, 2010 (a year from today) but since this is a race I bet it will end a lot faster than that!

If you beat me in this challenge I must watch a crappy movie of your choice.

But if I beat you then you must watch a crappy movie of my choice.

If you choose to accept this dare you must follow these rules:

• Blog about your acceptance and log in with Mr Linky on the correct Acceptance Post here.
  
• Blog about your thoughts after completing each item. When you've completed the challenge check in with Mr Linky on the correct Completed Challenge Post on the I Dare You to Accept This Challenge Blog!
  
• Once you accept (or complete) this challenge then make a list of 10 related items (ie all Bollywood movies, your favorite tv show or book series, favorite genre of books etc) and challenge one of your friends...even the one who challenged you!
  
• Need help deciding on a dare? Check out what others are doing here.

2. Once you've challenged your friend be sure to stop back here and let everyone know who you've challenged. Then sit back and see how they do!

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

Amazon.com:

When Bethany -- self-proclaimed geek girl -- makes the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there's one thing worse than blending in with the lockers: getting noticed. She always felt comfortable as part of the nerd herd, but being a member of the most scrutinized group in her school is weighing her down like a ton of textbooks. Even her Varsity Cheerleading Guide can't answer the really tough questions, like: How do you maintain some semblance of dignity while wearing an insanely short skirt? What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party? And how do you know if your crush likes you for your mind...or your pom-poms? One thing's for sure: It's going to take more than brains for this girl genius to cheer her way to the top of the pyramid.

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading was an interesting melding of geek and popular. What would happen if a geek dared to become a cheerleader, how would the other cheerleaders act, and why would the geek want to join in the first place. I found the premise of the book very interesting.

Bethany was definitely my favorite character, I totally understood her. I always really enjoyed when she hung out with her geek crowd and their "Geek Nights", especially Todd the leader of the geeks. Moni was sort of the typical best friend sidekick and I was never really sure if I could completely trust nice guy jock Jack, well until the end that is. I liked that uncertainty.

I found myself perplexed as to where the story was going, in a way the story reminded me of this movie I had seen so I wondered, would it end that way or would it end the way I would expect it to. But I'm not going to tell you which way it ended, have to read the book for that! In the end what happened happened and I think the conclusion made sense and wasn't exactly what I was expecting (in a good way!) I guess I could have used a bit more of the geek mixed in with the popular/cheerleading aspects of the story but it will still a lot of fun!

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading was released on May 19th!
Genre: Young Adult
3.5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by author for blog tour

This Year In Movies: June

This month I watched 6 movies and 2 tv shows, I guess not too bad?

True Blood Season 1- If you've spoken to me or followed me on twitter in the last month you know how much I've come to adore this show! (Sorry, I absolutely hate the True Blood graphic for Season 1 so I went with a picture.)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop- This was pretty hilarious, I really liked it. The only thing that was strange to me was Paul Blart's love interest in the movie was probably young enough to be his daughter in my opinion, so besides that strange casting I liked it!

Zack & Miri Make A Porno- I think this is one of my favorites of the movies put out by this group of actors/directors/writers. I really liked it.

Fanboys- Really liked this one as well, here's a full review.

Bridewars- This is just like what you would think it would be like. Cute, fun, predictable, cute ending. I liked it!

Confessions of a Shopaholic- Totally hilarious! I thought the romance was a little rushed and just happened all of a sudden but besides that a lot of fun with a few soft spots too! I've been meaning to read the book series for years!

The Secret Life of the American Teenager Season 1- I feel sort of lukewarm about this show. At first I was beyond annoyed how EVERY SINGLE plot dealt with sex in some way, making it seem like the only problems teens face are sex related, really strange if you ask me. I still dislike most of the characters but rather like a few (Henry, Alice, and Ashley). Once I start a series I have a hard time not finishing it unless it bored the crap out of me. So I've got Season 2 at the top of my Netflix queue!

New in Town- I had to see this because of the setting lol! No we don't talk like that! Anyhow, I thought it was strange how fast the movie moves like it's Thanksgiving and then 5 minutes later New Years. I felt like we should have seen a bit more to make the plot flow a little better. Overall cute though. And yes it's really that cold!

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 37

Model Life by Isobella Jade, Illustrations by Jazmin Ruotolo

(illustration from Model Life)

From Amazon.com:

Isobella Jade, a student at the New York Institute of Technology, begins exploring the possibility of working as a lingerie model — despite her nontraditional height of 5'4”. A Google search leads her to ads posted on Craigslist, and soon Jade finds herself turning up at private apartments for model shoots that more often than not turn out to be seedy, disappointing, and sometimes downright dangerous.

After she is sliced across the eyebrow in a fight with a sleazy so-called fashion photographer who will not respect her boundaries in a photo shoot, Jade decides that she's finished with answering ads on Craigslist. She’s determined to get professional, get an agent, and become a real model.

Model Life reveals her glamorous and not-so-glamorous on-the-job experiences in New York City. From her first photo shoot and her close brushes with soft porn to her appearances in ad campaigns for national retailers and magazines, this height-challenged model shares her past in an edgy, illustrated exposé. The original story of the ultimate underdog, Model Life is a celebration of the self-discovery that comes with being self-made and the triumph of beating the odds.

Released October 1st 2009

I actually got to meet Isobella Jade at BEA, she came over and said Hi to me at the Blogger Signing booth. I love the concept of her book, a graphic novel about the life of a model! I mean how could this not be interesting!

What can't you wait for to be released?

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

What's on your desk Wednesday?

Kristi of The Story Siren tagged me for this meme last Wednesday and while I thought it looked like tons of fun I fully admit to removing a pile of papers from my desk for this pictures so you could actually see what was on it. I also brought a few things over from my other "desk" (my bed) that are usually with me when I'm sitting at my computer. So yes, I cheated but it was for your own benefit, seriously!

So it sounds like I'm supposed to point out 5 bookish things and 5 non-bookish things on my desk and also tag 5 people. Let's see how many of the rules I can follow! I already broke one by tampering with my desk before taking the picture!


Bookish Things:

1. Well how did you get there Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris? I was reading this right before I decided to put together this post so it came over to my desk with me.

2. Under Dead Until Dark is the Richard Avedon book I freaked out about in my This Week In Books post from Saturday and between the two is my latest Library Thing Early Reviewer book that came in the mail Monday.

3. That little green piece of paper contains my little blogging schedule I put together a few months ago per what I wanted to post about each day of the week. I'm happy to say that months later I'm still pretty much sticking to that plan and posting everyday!

4. The manilla envelope to the left was a little press packet I got from an author at BEA, it actually contains information about my Waiting On Wednesday pick for today!

5. Underneath that is my review copy calender and notebook with checklists!

Non-Bookish Things:

1. Well of course my new phone followed me over to my desk as well, I love it! *pets*

2. My MacBook Pro is getting a rare rest while I take this picture, she needs a nap sometimes too!

3. I've only had my laptop since last September but a few months ago I started to notice these strange scuffs on the right of my laptop and couldn't figure out where they had come from! Turns out it was from my watch rubbing against my laptop when I was typing, I was horrified so now I always try and take my watch off when using my computer. So there it sits along with my new Andy Warhol watch I won last week!

4. My broken printer, ugh that just makes me angry. WHY DON'T YOU WORK! And then my dad made off with my one that came with my laptop, give it back!!!!

5. See that rainbow colored ticket? It was from the Rock the Garden show I went to about a week and a half ago, I just love the design, well done!

I will tag:

Lenore of Presenting Lenore
Khyrinthia of Frenetic Reader
Beth Fish of Beth Fish Reads
Polo.Pony of Garden of Books (For Teens)
Irish of Ticket to Anywhere