"Waiting On" Wednesday! 11

Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim

Product Description from Amazon.com:

If Nina Khan were to rate herself on the unofficial Pakistani prestige point system – the one she’s sure all the aunties and uncles use to determine the most attractive marriage prospects for their children – her scoring might go something like this:

+2 points for getting excellent grades
–3 points for failing to live up to expectations set by genius older sister
+4 points for dutifully obeying parents and never, ever going to parties, no matter how antisocial that makes her seem to everyone at Deer Hook High
–1 point for harboring secret jealousy of her best friends, who are allowed to date like normal teenagers
+2 points for never drinking an alcoholic beverage
–10 points for obsessing about Asher Richelli, who talks to Nina like she’s not a freak at all, even though he knows that she has a disturbing line of hair running down her back
In this wryly funny debut novel, the smart, sassy, and utterly lovable Nina Khan tackles friends, family, and love, and learns that it’s possible to embrace two very different cultures – even if things can get a little bit, well, hairy.

Released on March 31st 2009.

I've noticed a lot of books recently dealing with middle eastern girls coming of age. Very interesting to me, seeing as I'm half middle eastern. I like to see how the characters balance two different cultures. 

What are you waiting on to be released? 

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

Tuesday Thingers!

Tuesday Thingers is now being hosted by Wendi of Wendi's Book Corner, Marie of the Boston Bibliophile, (who did a great job) is passing on the torch!

Wendi's first question:

Here is a list of the main areas of Library Thing:
1. Home (http://www.librarything.com/, before you log in)
2. Home (once you log in, contains Your Home, Your Profile, Connections, Recommendations, Reviews, Statistics, Clouds, Gallery, Memes)
3. Profile (Recent activity, tags, comments, members with your books)
4. Your Library
5. Your Tags
6. Add Books
7. Talk
8. Groups
9. Local
10. Search
11. Zeitgeist (Stats, Top Lists)
12. Tools (Widgets, Store)
13. Blog

What area are you most familiar with? What area is your favorite? What area are you curious about? Are there any that you have not really looked at?

I'm always logged in so I rarely see the Home-home page. I'd say I'm most familiar with my home page, my profile page. I get to my groups from there so I really never go to Talk or Groups to access them. I also really like looking at the Zeitgeist page. I used to read the blog more often than I do now, need to get back to that! I visit the tools page every once in awhile to see if there is anything new. I also go to Add Books, Your Tags and Your Library a lot when adding in new titles and updating their statues from unread to read! One that I would like to explore more is Local!

What's your favorite LibraryThing feature?

Hardcover vs. Paperback 9

Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com Product Description:

Sometimes it takes getting hit with a hockey puck to help you see what’s good for you! Carolyn Mackler is back — and V is off on a solo road trip — in this funny, poignant follow-up to VEGAN VIRGIN VALENTINE.

V Valentine is the queen of meaningless hookups. Ever since her mom dumped her with her grandparents, she has bounced from guy to guy. But in the spring of senior year, a fateful hockey puck lands her in the lap of Sam Almond. Right from the start, things with Sam are different. V is terrified to admit it, but this might be meaningful after all. On the afternoon of graduation, V receives some shocking news. Later, at a party, she makes an irreversible mistake and risks losing Sam forever. When her mom invites her to Texas, V embarks on a cross-country road trip with the hopes of putting two thousand miles between herself, Sam, and the wreckage of that night. With her trademark blend of humor and compassion, Carolyn Mackler takes readers on an unforgettable ride of missed exits, misadventures, and the kind of epiphanies that come only when you’re on a route you’ve never taken before.

I adore the paperback millions of times more than the hardcover! The photography style is much more beautiful to me, I consider the hardcover a bit cheesy compared to the paperback. I think the paperback says roadtrip a bit better than the hardcover. 

Hardcover or Paperback?

Mistletoe by Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, and Nina Malkin

From the back cover:

Curl up in front of a crackling fire with this collection of holiday treats from four of today's bestselling authors.

Hailey Abbott (Summer Boys) spins a scandalous tale of one hot New Year's Eve party that will leave you breathless.

Melissa de la Cruz (The Au Pairs) puts a fresh, sexy spin on a holiday classic about love, lies, and the perfect present.

Aimee Friedman (South Beach) tells the sassy tale of a New York City fashionista who finds true love in a department store on Christmas Eve.

Nina Malkin (6X: The Uncensored Confessions) takes you to Hollywood for a magical holiday encounter that's right out of the movies.

Mistletoe is a mixed bag of holiday and new year's stories! They all have something different to offer but go together nicely! Just like, Let It Snow, it's perfect to read this time of year!

Of all the stories I think I enjoyed Aimee Friedman's story, Working in a Winter Wonderland the most. I don't want to give too much away because discovering the main character, Maxine's job at the department store is all part of the fun. But it's a great glimpse of the holiday madness that leads up to Christmas!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Breakup but Hailey Abbott is a great story about a group of friends and how things can change without even realizing it when one friend goes to college and the others are left back in high school. I was also engrossed by this story curious as to how it would all turn out!

Nina Malkin's story, Scenes From A Cinematic New Year's is a story of a teen tv star who has a very strange and magical night when his car gets stranded. I liked how this story progressed but the ending could have used a few more details in my opinion.

And finally, Melissa de la Cruz's story, The Christmas Choos is a sweet story about the lengths a boyfriend and girlfriend will go for each other. It is also based on a classic O. Henry story. I love when stories are reinvented in a new way but also still stay true to the heart of the original story!

Over all this was a fun holiday read that shows enough variety to keep the reader interested!

3.5/5 Stars

Purchased by myself

What's your favorite holiday story?

This Week In Books or Holy Crap What A Load of Books (and none received X-mas day!)

Monday:

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnhold

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levinthan

This was my LibraryThing Santa Thing gift, I talked about how wonderful it was here.

Tuesday:

Willow by Julia Hoban

You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem

The Lagoon by Lilli Carre

You Don't Love Me Yet was featured in a Hardcover vs. Paperback a few weeks ago, check it out here. And luckily I purchased The Lagoon a few weeks before I joined the Graphic Novels challenge so I'll definitely be reading it soon! And Willow is WILLOW!

Wednesday:

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison

Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Wintegirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman

Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig

So woke up this morning and my dad was bringing in the newspaper and two packages! Christmas definitely came early! Expect a lot of young adult book reviews in the near future!!!!

Romeo and Juliet by Esther Pearl Watson

This is a comic by the author of Unlovable which I featured a few weeks ago for Waiting on Wednesday here. Unfortunately Unlovable isn't in stock yet even though it was supposed to be released on the 15th :( I'll be reading this and Unlovable if it ever comes out for the Graphic Novels Challenge too!

Thursday: nothing. No worries though, I usually don't get books for Christmas, except a few times in college where I sent my mom a list and I was like, "I need this book I am poor please feel bad for meeeeeeee!!!!!!!" Oddly enough until part way through college I didn't buy many books, only art/design books and novels I had read from the library and LOVED! What the hell has happened to me!?!?

Friday:

Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes (one of my favorite graphic novels!)

Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon

McSweeney's Issue No. 16

A La Cart by Hillary Carlip

The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta

Thwonk by Joan Bauer

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Fat Hoochie Prom Queen by Nico Medina

Faking 19 by Alyson Noel

Westminster Abby by Micol Ostow

Sooo...... had to stop by the doctor's which meant stopping by Half Price Books and then I got stuck waiting in there while everyone else was trying on clothes in another store! I just have to say The Abstinence Teacher was only $2!!

Shelter Me by Alex McAulay

Paper Towns by John Green

College Girl by Patricia Weitz

Came home to the mail which included Shelter Me for review and Paper Towns and College Girl from the lovely Lenore of Presenting Lenore! Thanks so much Lenore!!!!!!!

Mates, Dates, and Great Escapes by Cathy Hopkins

Mates, Dates, and Sole Survivors by Cathy Hopkins

I bought a few books for my Grandma at Half Price Books and she decided she wanted the rest of the titles by that author, in that genre (do you see where i get it?). So we stopped by a local used store and found them all plus two more Mates and Dates books for me!

Target Underwear and A Vera Wang Gown by Adena Halpern

Spud by John Van De Ruit

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

America At Home by Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt

And then we finally made it to Borders, I was in search for a present for my sister, I guess books are ok again she decided and a 50% off calendar. What I didn't realize was that their was a clearance sale going on as well!!! I was sort of tired of bookstores by the end of the day!

Saturday: nothing!

Lookalikes 27

The Triplets of Belleville

Tokyo Godfathers

So maybe these aren't really lookalikes but I wanted to post them anyways. There are a lot of similarities between them similar color palettes, similar grouping of people and a city background. Ok maybe there isn't a lot that is the same but there is something going on here! Plus The Triplets of Belleville is one of my favorite movies, so Tokyo Godfathers caught my eye as a tiny thumbnail because there isn't really anything else that looks like The Triplets of Belleville.

Which is your favorite?

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Amazon.com Product Description:

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 today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

So this is what it feels like to be in love with a book...

Best thing for me about this collection? How all the stories overlap slightly. Characters from the first story show up in the second, characters from the second are in the third etc. The authors have put together their heads and created a world that all of their characters could live in, and I loved it! I also loved getting the chance to read stories by Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle for the first time, it definitely will not be the last time! Now onto the individual stories..

Maureen Johnson's, The Jubilee Express starts like a normal day, a girl (Jubilee) waiting at home for her parents to arrive and looking forward to getting to spend the evening with her boyfriend. It quickly steers off course and Jubilee finds herself stuck on a train going nowhere with a group of cheerleaders (she HATES cheerleaders). She makes her way off the train and that's when the adventure really begins...

John Green's, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle also starts like any ordinary winter day. Three friends are enjoying a Bond marathon until they receive a call that they must get down to the Waffle House to partake in the oogling of some cheerleaders. This would just be a typical guys being guys story except one of these three friends happen to be a girl (and she's not in it to oogle any cheerleaders). Their journey through a huge snowstorm to see the cheerleaders ends up stirring up some hidden feelings between two of the friends...

Whenever I think of Lauren Myracle's, The Patron Saint of Pigs, this is the image that will come to mind, you'll have to read the story to find out why! Anyhow, this story centers around Addie who, when in a confused and drunken state makes a mistake and because of it loses her boyfriend. She spends some time feeling bad for herself but is forced to get back to the daily grind at Starbucks. Through a series of events she learns a little something about herself...

So if I had to choose, I'd pick John Green's story as my favorite. But I like to look at it one big story! This is a great book, especially for this time of year! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I think it's a great way to get introduced to some of the biggest names in young adult literature!

5/5 Stars
Purchased by myself

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas or I Believe I'm Scared of Santa!

Some evidence...

Here I am as a toddler visiting with Santa, don't I look like I'm having a great time?

Several years later I learned how to be gentle about my fear and avoided eye contact to protect myself but displayed a fake smile so Santa's feelings wouldn't be hurt.

These make me laugh everytime I see them! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! :P

EDITED TO SAY: Actually, I still don't like Santa. If there is one in a mall I usually get out of there as fast as possible and will not look at them. Creeps me out, as do people in animal costumes etc! No freaking way I'd humor them and chat!

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 10

The Sisters 8 Book 1: Annie's Adventures by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted

From the Publisher's Website:

A rather large problem has befallen the Huit girls. (Sisters, actually. Octuplets to be exact.) One particular New Year’s Eve, the girls wait for their mommy to bring them hot chocolate and their daddy to return with more wood for the fire. But they don’t. Mommy and Daddy, that is. They’re gone. Poof! Maybe dead—no one knows for sure. You must see the problem here. Eight little girls on their own, no mommy or daddy to take care of them. This is not a good thing. So now these little girls, must take care of themselves. Get to school, cook the meals, feed the cats (eight of them, too), and pay the bills. They can’t ask for help, oh no. Any self-respecting adult would surely call in social services, and those well-meaning people would have to split them up. After losing their parents, being split up would be completely unbearable. At the same time, the question remains:What happened to Mommy and Daddy? The Sisters Eight (as they are called, affectionately and otherwise) are determined to find out. Luckily, they do seem to have someone or something helping them. Notes keep appearing behind a loose brick in the fireplace. It’s a good old-fashioned mystery with missing (or dead) parents, nosy neighbors, talking refrigerators, foul-smelling fruitcake (is there any other kind?), and even a little magic. Eight little girls, eight cats, and one big mystery—let the fun begin!

Annie’s Adventures, wherein the girls’ parents go missing (or die) and the girls learn each one has a power and gift. Annie, being the oldest, is the first to discover hers.

Released on December 29th 2008!

Check out the website here! (there are even paper dolls you can cut out!)

This sounds like the beginning of a great series! 8 little girls looking for their parents and they have powers/gifts! Sounds like a great mix of family and mystery! How cute is it that it was written by the Logsted family! Reminds me a little bit of Lemony Snicket which I loved!

What are you waiting on this week?

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

Tuesday Thingers!

Today's question: Holiday gift-giving. Do you give books for the holidays? Did you participate in LT's SantaThing, either this year or last, or in other blogging gift exchanges? Were you happy with what you received?

Oh yes, do I give books as gifts for the holidays! This morning I think I counted 11 books I purchased for this holiday season as gifts! I like trying to find the perfect book gift for someone! 

I did participate in LibraryThing's SantaThing this year! Here is my post about it! They did such a good job I had to do a post about it-pretty sure they were actually Santa! My SantaThing Secret Santa couldn't have done a better job, even if it had been me picking for myself! I don't know why I didn't join last year but I remember promising myself then, that I would do it this year and I'm so so so glad I did it!

Are you giving books for gifts this holiday season?

Hardcover vs. Paperback 8

Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

Hardcover

Paperback 1

Paperback 2

Amazon.com Product Description: 

Mara Valentine is in control. She's a straight-A student, a strict vegan and she's heading to Yale in the fall. So when her slutty, weed-smoking, sixteen-year-old niece - yes, niece - V comes to live with the family, Mara is horrified. Even more so when she starts dreaming about grilled cheese sandwiches every night and realizes she is falling for James, her boss. Unable to ignore these unfamiliar cravings, Mara starts to give into them a little and in doing so discovers her sexuality, redefines her relationship with her over-anxious parents and realizes that V could in fact be a potential friend and ally.

I like all three covers, maybe Paperback 2 a bit more than Paperback 1, I like how it's understated in that case. And maybe Paperback 2 a slight bit more than the Hardcover, though I do like the title treatment on the Hardcover. 

Hardcover or Paperback?

Is my Librarything.com Santathing Santa actually Santa?

I think so! Look what they picked out for me!!!! Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (recently out in paperback). I seriously couldn't have done a better job myself! In fact I was going to buy these for myself in the next few months for sure! They read my mind!!!

And what really amazes me is that they waded through my long winded comments that I filled out on the Santathing page. I figured I'd give the person a freaking headache and they seriously came up with the best possible gift for me. I'm totally certain my Librarything Santathing is Santa! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

If you participated what did your Santathing Santa bring you? If it hasn't come yet, or you are waiting until Christmas to open it (I could never wait that long) come back and share later on! I'd love to hear what you got and what you think of it!

Hope everyone is enjoying gearing up for the holidays, this was a great start for me! Happy Holidays!

Where My Books Live

So Bermudaonion has asked me a few times about what my TBR pile looks like. I don't really keep my read books separate from my unread books though. But I thought I'd share a few pictures I just took! A mini-tour if you wish.

So I guess this is the closest thing I have to a TBR pile. It's my ARCs and Review Copies (they are all listed here in my ARC Challenge list).

Here's a snapshot of one of the shelves on my YA bookshelf!

Here is my desk bookcase where I keep most of my comics, zines, and tiny art books. 

Here is my closet book stash, yes I said closet! It's the top part of my closet, I keep a lot of fiction and memoirs up here.

Here's part of my main bookcase where I keep a little of everything.

So as you can see, totally not organized. I definitely wish it was better organized and that I had more room! :P

So how about you? Do you have any pictures to share? Where is the weirdest place you keep books?

The Grift by Debra Ginsberg

Amazon.com Product Description:

What happens when a pseudo psychic suddenly gets the real gift?

Marina Marks has been on the grift as a psychic since she was a child, forced into the business by a junkie mother who was always desperate for her next fix—and willing to use her solemn dark-haired daughter to peddle an extra buck. As an adult, Marina has earned a handsome living preying on the dreams and fears of her clients. She doesn’t believe there is such a thing as psychic ability, but she does believe in intuition. Her gift is the ability to gain the trust of her clients and subtly raise her fees as they become more attached to her and her readings.

But when Marina moves her “intuitive counseling” business out of muggy, cloying Florida to the milder environs of southern California, her past follows her. As she takes on new clients—a trophy wife desperate to bear a child, a gay man involved with a closeted psychiatrist, and a philandering businessman who’s smitten with her—a former client resurfaces in an eerie way. Suddenly, Marina is in love for the first time, but it is a romance whose roots lie deep in her past and threaten her efforts to reinvent herself.

As Marina’s life gets more and more entangled with those of her clients, she makes a startling discovery: she suddenly has the actual ability to see the future. After predicting a murder exactly as it happens, she becomes the sole suspect. Now she’s the desperate one—desperate to clear her name and to discover the meaning behind her visions.

I'm not totally certain how I feel about this book. I liked it but at the same time I felt sort indifferent. I found the story so so serious that it almost became stressful. I would have liked some lighter elements or a bit of humor to counterbalance all the seriousness and all the character's flaws and drama.

Of all the characters and relationships I think I liked Marina and the mysterious Gideon's relationship the most. I would have loved to see that explored even more than it was. I'm very glad that Marina was the main character because she is who I enjoyed the most. It was really interesting to see her change over the course of the book. Besides her and Gideon, I didn't really care for any of the other characters. Cooper was ok, but even he got annoying after awhile.

I thought one really strong thing the book had was the alternating perspectives. It helped keep up the mystery of the story with all the perspectives layered on top of each other. I really like how all the elements of the story slowly came together piece by piece. I also liked learning a bit about psychics and tarot cards. I don't know much about them so it was an interesting subject to read about!

I recently heard about one of the author's other books, Blind Submission, I'm very interested in reading it!

3/5 Stars
Review copy provided by publisher

If you've read this book, what did you think of it?

The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer

From the Publisher's website:

The Official Rules of the Teashop Girls

1. Teashop girls are best friends forever.
2. Tea is held every week, no matter what.
3. All tea and scones must be split equally at all times.

Annie, Genna, and Zoe have been hanging out at the Steeping Leaf since elementary school. The Teashop Girls do everything together -- at least they used to. With the end of eighth grade approaching, Genna's too busy with theater, Zoe's always at tennis, and Annie feels totally left out. What happened to tea every week, no matter what?

When Annie convinces her grandmother to give her a job as a barista at the Leaf, things begin to look up. In between whipping up chai lattes for customers, and attempting to catch the attention of her Barista Boy crush, Annie is finally beginning to feel as grown-up as her best friends. But an eviction notice spells trouble for the Leaf and unless they can turn the business around, the teashop will have to close its doors forever.

Fresh, honest, and sweet, Laura Schaefer's debut novel is sure to resonate with readers everywhere.

I adored this book! It definitely soared above my expectations! It was sweet and warm and just all things good!

The book centers around Annie and her beloved Steeping Leaf that her grandmother owns. She loves the Steeping Leaf so much she wants to get her very first job there, and it doesn't hurt that a cute older boy named Jonathan also works there! Her initial meeting with Jonathan is too funny! Everything is going well until one day the power goes out and Annie finds out that her grandmother has been having problems paying all her bills. Annie and her friends become determined to save the Steeping Leaf!

One of my favorite things about this book is all the old tea leaf ads and recipes. When Annie was younger she and her friends started a scrapbook of all things tea and these are clippings from it! The book is also full of beautiful watercolor illustrations. These just add to the experience of an already great book!

I had assumed it would be alternating perspectives based on what I read in the synopsis but that wasn't the case and it did not matter at all. Through Annie's voice we definitely also get a sense of her family and friends, Geena and Zoe. The cast of secondary characters were great. I especially loved the "very annoying" Zach!

I really hope this is just the beginning of the Teashop Girls adventures and that there are more books to come! Fingers crossed! This book has definitely peaked my interest in tea and I definitely hope to try a variety of teas in the near future!

The Teashop Girls is released on December 30th!

5/5 Stars

Review copy provided by publisher

What's your favorite tea? I want to try some but don't know where to start! Does anyone know of a great sampler pack I could purchase? Or a particular brand that's great?

Goals for 2009

I was tagged by Emily of That One Girl Emily to talk about some of my goals for 2009! So let's see....

1. Work on my comics! If you couldn't tell, I like to do little doodles like the ones you see in my blog header and profile icon and the one seen to the left. Last Fall I started a little mini comics trio and got the first two done but haven't gone back to it! I think it's because I got so busy with my job, I really want to finish it though! Come to think of it I had another one in the works too!

2. When it comes to my blog I'd like to reply to my comments sooner, the last few weeks it was sometimes taking me more than a week! I'd also like the find something to post about every Thursday morning. My blog is a little dead Thursdays until I get home and post my Booking Through Thursday posts!

3. I'd like to spend more time with my friends. It feels like we are all busy with our jobs and families and when I get home from work all i want to do it lay around! I want to make more time to hang out with people. It's so easy to just fall out of touch when we get into our new routines. It's so different from college when we would hang out all the time!

4. I've joined 3 reading challenges and I'd like to be able to finish them all! I picked them based on what I was already hoping to read in 2009, they basically fit to a t with I want to read so I hope I'm able to do it!

5. Read more books and buy less books! As you know I have a BIG problem with buying way more than I can read! I'd also like to try and start letting go of more books (points to self -> packrat)

So what are some of your goals for 2009? I'm not going to tag anyone but feel free to post your own response or answer in the comments!

Great Buddy Award

Thanks to J. Kaye of J. Kaye Book Blogs who also nominated me for this Great Buddy Award! Right back at you J. Kaye. 

Originally I was going to try and come up with a list of people to nominate but realized it would probably take me several days and I would stress out about all the people that I had forgotten or were on the list that I had lost etc. So I'd like to share this with anyone that enjoys my blog and anyone's blog that I enjoy! You all know who you are! And any new friends too! This community is so welcoming!

Hope everyone is having a great few days before the holiday season really kicks into high gear! Anyone have any really special or exciting plans this year?

Kreativ Blogger Award!

J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog has nominated me for this award! Thanks J. Kaye! It sounds like I'm supposed to decide on six values that are important to me and six things I don't support and nominate six other bloggers!

Six values in others that are important to me:

Creativity

Originality

Humor

Inclusiveness

Modesty

Friendliness

6 things that I do not support:
Giving Up

Procrastination

Closed-mindedness

Complaining

Cocky attitude

Unkindness

I borrowed some of your answers J. Kaye!

Six fellow bloggers to I'd like to share this with:

Generous Blogger: Sharon of Sharon Loves Cats

Enthusiastic Blogger: Veens of Giving Reading a Chance 

Fellow Pop Culture Fanatic Blogger: Taren of The Chick Manifesto

Similar Reading Interests Blogger: S. Krishna of S. Krishna Books

Best for Suggestions Blogger: Lenore of Presenting Lenore

Book Buying Chats Blogger: Amee of Bookity Book Books

Sorry for these lame titles I picked for you guys! And anyone that I left out, I definitely had more but was supposed to stop at 6!

Rules:

Mention the blog that gave it to you.
Comment on her blog to let her know you have posted the award.
Share 6 values that are important to you.
Share 6 things you do not support.
Share the love with six other wonderful blogging friends.

Update: Thanks to Amee of Bookity Book Books for sharing this award with me too! 

Fall Into Reading 2008 Challenge Wrap Up

So my first ever reading challenge has come to an end today! And I think I finished it, tell me if you agree? I read 12 of the 13 books on my list with the 13th being a book I started and ended up giving up on. I would have finished it if I didn't decide to abandon it. I didn't change any of the books on my list which I'm pretty proud of!

Here's my list:

1. Matrimony

2. Loose Girl

3. The Wordy Shipmates gave up on after 80 pgs this rarely happens!

4. My Husband's Sweethearts

5. Swimming with Strangers

6. Off The Menu

7. Perfect On Paper

8. When We Were Romans

9. Meet Delaney

10. The Grift

11. We Bought A Zoo

12. Oh, The Humanity!

13. Miles From Nowhere

Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?
As I said above, finished 12/13 with the 13th being one I decided I didn't want to finish. So to me yes I did! I also read about 11 other books that weren't on the list.

Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?

I did stick to my original list which I'm proud of! I really wanted to finish these books by today and I did!

What was your favorite book that you read this fall? Least favorite? Why?
My favorite book I read this fall off of my list was Perfect On Paper with Off the Menu coming in a close second! Least favorite would have to be the book I didn't finish, The Wordy Shipmates. After 80 or so pages I realized I couldn't remember anything I had read and that wasn't a good sign!

Did you learn something new because of the Fall Into Reading challenge?—something about reading, or yourself, or a topic you read about?
One thing I learned was maybe I need to take a break from short stories. It seems to me that often times the short stories don't have concrete endings and it started to get to me with Swimming With Strangers.

What was your favorite thing about the Fall Into Reading challenge?

My favorite thing was making a reading list and seeing myself complete it! I loved crossing books off as I read them, I'm looking forward to doing that with my 3 challenges for 2009!

Thanks to Katrina of Callapidder Days for hosting this challenge!

What was the last challenge you completed or one you are joining in 2009?

This Week In Books Or What's It Going to Be Next Week? Penny Books?!?

Monday: 

Hero Type by Barry Lyga

Got Hero Type from bookmooch!

Tuesday:

In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg

Funny In Farsi by Firoozeh Damas

Parties and Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

In Your Room and Funny In Farsi came from bookmooch! Parties and Potions for possible review! Has anyone read the other books in the Magic in Manhattan series? How did you like them? Would it be best for me to start at the beginning of the series?

Wednesday: nothing

Thursday:

Spin Control by Niki Burnham

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

How My Private, Personal Journal Became A Bestseller by Julia Devillers

Peace is a Four-Letter Word by Janet Nichols Lynch

Perfect by Natasha Friend

Click Here by Denise Vega

Girls Dinner Club by Jessie Elliot

Diva by Alex Flinn

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes by Peggy Gifford

Easy by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann

Strapless by Leigh Riker

Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn

Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley

Would You by Marthe Jocelyn

So I thought last week the sale at the library was good (25 cent books). Well this week it was even better, $2.00 bags! I just grabbed the books I wanted, I'm sure for my $2.00 I could have gotten even more! They must sure want to make room for some new books. A lot of these ex-library books must have just been pulled off the shelves recently- didn't see them before today!

Friday:

The Plague by Joanne Dahme

Cathy's Ring by Sean Stewart & Jordan Weisman

The Quarter Horse Foal by Inda Schaenen

Rainy Day Rescue by Inda Schaenen

These came for possible review!

Saturday: nothing

So what did you get this week? I stopped over at Borders last night for a gift card and book for some more gifts! Did you buy any really exciting book related gifts?

Graphic Novels Challenge 2009

So I was super excited to find out that Laza had started a graphic novel challenge! She has even created levels of participation you can choose from. So I looked over all the graphic novels I have to read and wanted to read and decided to go for the highest level, Doctorate, which is to read 24 graphic novels! I'm taking the term graphic novel a bit loosely to include some anthologies, smaller comic books and an illustrated zine anthology. Anyhow I'm very excited. Check out the challenge's blog here to join!

1. 32 Stories by Adrian Tomine

2. At A Crossroads: Between A Rock and My Parents Place by Kate T. Williamson

3. Best American Comics 2008 edited by Lynda Barry

4. Delayed Replays by Liz Prince

5. Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man by John Porcellino

6. Breaking Up by Aimee Friedman

7. French Milk by Lucy Knisley

8. Funeral of the Heart by Leah Hayes

9. Girl Stories by Lauren Weinstein

10. Invincible Summer Volume 2 by Nicole J Georges

11. Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci

12. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware

13. Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by Daniel Clowes

14. Little Things: A Memoir in Slices by Jeffrey Brown

15. Mome Vol. 10 Winter/Spring 2008 edited by Gary Groth

16. The New York Four by Brian Wood

17. Nothing Better: No Place Like Home by Tyler Page

18. Ojingogo by Matt Forsythe

19. Pussey! by Daniel Clowes

20. A Year in Japan by Kate T. Williamson

21. Watchmen (need to check out from library)

22. Unlovable by Esther Pearl Watson

23. The Lagoon by Lilli Carre

24. Romeo and Juliet by Esther Pearl Watson

Lookalikes 26

Getting the Girl by Susan Juby

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

I really like both of these covers! I've been wanting to read Perfect You for months! I'm in love with the colors used on both covers and also the compositions. How you see a few different things on Getting the Girl and more of the people's bodies on Perfect You! I can't pick a favorite!

Thanks goes to Amee for pointing out this lookalikes!

Which is your favorite?

The 2009 ARC Reading Challenge

I didn't think I would join any challenges when I first joined the book blogging community but I keep finding ones that fit what I already am planning to read so how can I not join! It will be fun to spend this year reading along with others in this challenge and hearing what they are reading and enjoying! The 2009 ARC Reading Challenge is being hosted by Teddy Rose of So Many Precious Books, So Little Time. Are you interested in joining too? Go to this link to check out the details and join!

So it looks like I'm supposed to list all the ARCs and/or review books I currently have and add to the list as I get more. And since I have more than 12 my goal is to read and review 12 of the books from the list by December 31st 2009!

Here's my list:

1. The Customer Is Always Wrong edited by Jeff Martin

2. When Wanders Cease To Roam by Vivian Swift

3. Going to See the Elephant by Rodes Fishburne

4. 3 Willows by Ann Brashares

5. Houston, We Have A Problema by Gwendolyn Zepeda

6. Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson

7. Kisses and Lies by Lauren Hendeson

8. Going Down South by Bonnie J. Glover

9. The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

10. Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley

11. GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow

12. Something Like Beautiful by Asha Bandele

13. The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez

14. The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickson

15. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

16. I'm Sorry You Feel That Way by Diana Joseph

17. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

18. The Misadventures of Oliver Booth by David Desmond

19. Persistence of Memory of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

20. Superpowers by David J. Schwartz

21. Parties and Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

22. Cathy's Ring by Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman

23. The Plague by Joanne Dahme

24. Rainy Day Rescue by Inda Schaenen

25. The Quarter Horse Foal by Inda Schaenen

26. Willow by Julia Hoban

27. Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

28. Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

29. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

30. The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman

31. Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison

32. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

33. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

34. Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

35. Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig

36. Shelter Me by Alex McAulay

37. Got You Back by Jane Fallon

38. At A Loss For Words by Diane Schoemperlen

39. Inside Out Girl by Tish Cohen

40. Getting the Girl by Susan Juby

41. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

42. The Brightest Moon of the Century by Christopher Meeks

43. Hollywood Royalty: The A-List by Zoey Dean

44. No More Us For You by David Hernandez

45. The Abc's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

46. The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan

47. No Such Thing As The Real World by Various

48. Super In the City by Daphne Uviller

49. I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna

50. In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash

51. The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer
52. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
53. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
54. Chasing Boys by Karen Tayleur
55. The Season by Sarah MacLean
56. The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari
57. Lucky Girl by Mei-Ling Hopgood
58. 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
59. Geektastic by Various
60. Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita
61. Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
62. Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti
63. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
64. You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
65. Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein
66.Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
67. Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
68. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
69. Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald
70. The Fearless Fish Out of Water by Robin Fisher Roffer
71. Confessions of a Former Child by Daniel J. Tomasulo
72. Prelude by William Coles
73. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet by Joanne Proulx
74. The Rose Variations by Marisha Chamberlain
75. Everything Is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
76. The Local News by Miriam Gershow
77. Retail Anarchy by Sam Pocker
78. Alligator Bayou by Donna Jo Napoli
79. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
80. B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras
81. Busy Woman Seeks Wife by Annie Sanders
82. Highway to Hell by Rosemary Clement- Moore
83. Brutal by Michael Harmon
84. Surface Tension by Brent Runyon
85. Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
86. Genesis by Bernard Beckett
86. TMI by Sarah Quigley
87. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
88. My Big Nose and other Natural Disasterse by Sydney Salter
89. The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival by Dene Low
90. Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
91. Tempo Change by Barbara Hall
92. It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
93. A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
94. Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
95. Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson
96. Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
97. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
98. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
99. Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
100. The Diamonds by Ted Michael
101. Deep in the Heart of High School by Veronica Goldbach
102. Five Minutes More by Darlene Ryan
103. Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee
104. Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
105. Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger
106. Prophecy of the Sisters of Michelle Zink
107. Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce
108. Everything Asian by Sung J. Woo
109. Precious by Sandra Novack
110. The Beef Princess of Practical County by Michelle Houts
111. Sebastian Darke: Prince of Pirates by Philip Caveney
112. Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder
113. Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart
114. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
115. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
116. 30 Days to Finding and Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and Bffs by Clea Hantman
117. One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin
118. If The Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney
119. Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel
120. Cathy's Key by Jordan Weisman and Sean Stewart
121. Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell
122. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
123. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama
124. Alyzon Whitestarr Isobelle Carmody
125. Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner
126.The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises
127. Dull Boy by Sarah Cross
128. After Amy Efaw
129. Hold Still Nina Lacour
130. Wanderlust by Lucy Silag
131. Fire by Kristin Cashore
132. Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer
133. I am a Genius of Unseapkable Evil and I want to be your Class President by Josh Lieb
134. Donut Days by Lara Zielin
135. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
136. Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang
137. Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
138. Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
139. An Off Year by Claire Zulkey
140. Leftovers by Heather Waldorf
141. How to Buy A Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson
142. Slept Away by Julie Kraut
143. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
144. And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
145. The Comeback by Marlene Perez
146. The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance
147. Magickeepers: The Eternal Hourglass Book One by Erica Kirov
148. Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
149. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
150. Guinevere's Gamble by Nancy McKenzie
151. Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis
152. The Sorceress by Michael Scott
153. Ash by Malinda Lo
154. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
155. Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
156. Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
157. Love, Lies, and Texas Dip by Susan McBride
Red Carpet Riot by David Van Etten