In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. I wasn't expecting to get so many books but I did!

Library:

The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan

I'm really enjoying this series. I saw the book and I knew that I had to read it immediately!

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My friend read it and said that it was good and she doesn't read any books so I think it will be good. Hopefully it is!

Borrowed:

Indigo by Alice Hoffman

My friend had and since it was short I decided that I should read it and find out if it was any good.

Other:

The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli

I got this one from school and since I had read Crash by the author and thought it was good, I saw it and decided to get it.

What did you get this week?

Nourishing the Need (4)

Nourishing the Need is a blog feature that will be posted here every week. It will feature Book Covers and Book Finds and will also give me an opportunity to let me talk anything about books!

Book Covers:

The Pirate Daughter's Promise by Molly Evangeline

I really like the background, especially the ship. And how sky seems to black and a golden light at the horizon. I just really like everything about this cover!

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

The cover seems plain but at the same time I can't help liking it! I like how the Pegasus is in the air while the girl is on the ground. I also like how the clouds seem to make way for the sun to shine.

Book Finds:

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

I really enjoyed the Luxe series even though I haven't read the last one yet. I will probably read anything written by her, especially since she writes about the times that I really like! I'm really looking forward to it!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This one seems like a sweet story to read. I usually don't read a lot of this kind but I think that I would really enjoy it! Plus, I really like the cover, especially since the Eiffel Tower is in the background.

So what do you think?

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

Title: The Reptile Room
Author: Lemony Snicket
Published: 1999
Pages: 190
Rating: 3/5
Summary: Do snakes make you nervous? How about salamanders? Does the mention of a brass reading lamp give you conniptions? Is a long knife something you wish to avoid? A car accident? An odor? Cake? Clues to a bloodthirsty crime?
It is likely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use. A librarian, bookseller, or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament. But to the rarest of readers we say, “‘Beware’ doesn’t begin to cover it.”
BE CAREFUL! This volume constitutes only one-thirteenth of Mr. Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Readers unbothered by inclement weather will want to continue with the third installment, The Wide Window. Others will not.
 
Review: After reading the first one I didn't know what to expect.
 
The story continues the misfortunes of the Baudelaire orphans. Once again they must go live with a relative that must care for them. This time they have a bit more luck and they get a guardian who isn't trying to make do everything around the house and who has a library. But then, being the Baudelaires, their worst nightmare appears and messes everything up.
 
Having read the first book I sort of knew how the characters were different from each other. I was glad to see the siblings try to help each other out and stick together even though it might have been difficult. Even though they had been through many things, they tried to have happy moments while they could.
 
Of course you need to have some complications, which is why there is always a villain. In this case it was Count Olaf. He seems to always want to ruin the lives of the Baudelaires and will stop at nothing to accomplish it. As before, he got me really mad since they only thing that he wants is the money.
 
It still had that different experience that the first book gave, which I'm glad of. I doubt many infants would know what was going on but I was fine with it. I really enjoyed reading more of the misfortunes of the orphans even though most of the time it seems unfair what they go through.
 
I was glad that the author didn't change things since I think it's one of the things that make this series so unique and different from what a reader would usually find. I'm very interested to see what will happen to the Baudelaires, since it seems that their lives revolve around misfortunes.

Book Blogger Hop (11)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there to read! You never know what great blogs you can find!

If you're visiting from the hop make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog! Have fun! =)

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. This week I didn't get any books from the library which is quiet surprising. Also surprising, I bought books!

Bought:

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

I've heard so much of Sarah Dessen that I knew that I had to get a book of hers. So I when I saw I didn't hesitate to get. Hopefully it's good.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I've heard many good things about this book I couldn't get. Now I finally got and I can't wait start reading it!

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

I can't explain how excited I was when I finally got it! I've been hearing so many great things and I just love the series! I read the book and I can't explain how amazing it was!

So what did you get?

Nourishing the Need (3)

Nourishing the Need is a new blog feature that will be posted here every week. This will be a way for me to talk anything about books.

Book Covers:

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

I really like the idea of having a ship in the background. And of course I think the colors that they used are really and don't hurt the eyes. And I really like the dress!

The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry

I think that the cover is a pleasant thing to look at. I really like the colors that they used since they make the eye focus on something. And I really like the color of her dress!

Book Finds:

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

It's supposed to be a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The main character falls in love with someone that she must stay away because of a curse. I always like to see how character try to overcome stuff like this. And I really like the cover!

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

This one is supposed to be about a man who is looking for wife who has money since Lacey Hall is near ruin. He is ready to woo any woman that has a fortune. Then he meets Ellie who has no money and you know how the story goes. Plus, I think the cover is really nice!

Did you notice that all the covers had a dress on them? =)

Book Blogger Hop (10)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there to read! You never know what great blogs you can find!

If you're visiting from the hop make sure you leave your link and I'll make sure to visit your blog! Have fun!

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Published: 2009
Pages: 464
Rating: 5/5
Summary: It's not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power would save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid pf becoming the monster her father was.

Review: I couldn't help being sucked into this book!

It was a whole different story than Graceling. The main character is Fire who is the last human monster and someone that is both feared and admired. She must help her people by taking the information that the spies of the lords who want to take over the throne have. Fire must overcome her fears and make many hard decisions that will help lead her life.

Just like in Graceling, Fire is a great character. She is strong and takes control of her decisions and of her life. She was someone that was trying to find who she was and a place where she fit. The decisions that she took were hard and at times I was shocked by the decision that she did take. Little by little we got to know more of her story and where she came from.

Brigan and the others were also great characters. They each had something that made them different from each other. The reactions that they had toward Fire were all different. Some desired her while others tried to stay away from her as much as possible. Some kept secrets that through the book we got to find out. Many of them changed as different things kept happening.

I'm glad that Cashore wrote of things that other authors wouldn't dare to write about. I think that this is one of the things that makes her books so amazing. I enjoyed every second that I had reading this book. Everything about this book is simply amazing! Any reader would be lucky to get their hands on this great story!

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. So this week I knew exactly what books I was getting before I went to the library, which I don't think it ever happens.

Library:

The Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan

I'm really liking this series so I was really exicited when I got this book. Someone told me that it was good so I can't wait to read it! And now Will is on his own so I think it will be very good!

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket

I keep thinking that this series is very unique.  I've liked the first ones so hopefully I like this one too! And since its small I'll probably finish it fast.

So what did you get?

Nourishing the Need (2)

Nourishing the Need is a new blog feature that will be posted here every week. This will be a way for me to talk anything about books. It will be broken up into sections so that it's a bit more organized (at least I hope so!)

Book Covers:

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Dawning Hahn

The cover honestly creeps me out but for some reason I like it. The picture looks old fashioned and I'm obsessed about those kind of pictures. Another thing that I like is the blood that is one the picture.

Matched by Ally Condie

The cover seems sort of plain but I like it. Especially the dress! I like the color that they used on the dress and the inside of the circle.And the fact that she's inside the sphere.

Book Finds:

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

I read the summary of it and I really liked it! It seems interesting and something that I haven't read before. I really like how she can't remember the night of her accident. Can't wait to read it!

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

This seems like a very unique story. It talks about the stories of Edgar Allen Poe and I really like the weird and not normal things he wrote. Also, I really like the stories were the main characters are totally opposite from each other. And I really like the cover!

What do you think about the covers?

Book Blogger Hop (9)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun new meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there to read! You never know what great blogs you can find!

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

Title: The Bad Beginning
Author: Lemony Snicket
Published: 1999
Pages: 197
Rating: 3/5
Summary: Just as they are enjoying a day at Briny Beach, the three Baudelaire children--- 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus and baby Sunny--- receive some bad news. Mr. Poe, a friend of the family, comes trekking across the foggy beach to tell the Baudelaires that their parents have died in a fire that also burned down the family mansion. Now orphaned, the Baudelaires face an uncertain future. They are soon packed off to their new guardian--- the icky Count Olaf, who is a distant cousin. But when they move in with the Count, the Baudelaire children are certain that he does not care about them--- he only wants to get his hands on the fortune Mr. and Mrs. Baudelaire left behind. See if they are right, as you read this exciting and humorous tale of mystery.

Review: The reason that I started reading this book was because I had seen it around a long time.

The Baudelaires were a happy family until a terrible thing happened. Their parents died in the fire that took them and their house. Now they don't have anyplace to go to. They are forced to go with Count Olaf who only wants their money. There the children go through many hard things that they had never faced before.

Violet was the oldest, making her want to take of her siblings, which I thought was a good thing. Klaus was the sibling that liked to read books and apparently had read more books than most people had. Sunny was a baby but knew what was happening around her and even took part in the conversations her siblings had. I thought that they all had something that distinguished them.

Count Olaf made me really annoyed me. I couldn't understand why someone would go to the extremes that he did just to get money. He only ordered the Baudelaires around and didn't think about them. His friends were very different and they all said bad things about them and also made their lives impossible.

I don't know what I was expecting but it sure wasn't what I got. They were very unique and something that I hadn't read before. It sometimes gives the reader definitions of words that are used and at times the narrator talks to the reader. I will keep reading the rest of the books to see where the story goes.

*Summary was from Goodreads

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Since I had testing all of last week I couldn't get books from my school library but I did get some from the public library!

Library:

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer

Like I've said before, anything that has to do with these kind of times I like. So this being about Mary obviously grabbed my attention! Can't wait to see if it's good!

Milagros: Girl from Away by Meg Medina

The first thing that grabbed my attention of this one was the title. Then I opened the book and saw some words in Spanish. After that, I saw the word pirate and I just had to get it. Just like the Victorian times and all those kind of times, I love pirates!

So what did you get this week?

Nourishing the Need (1)

Nourishing the Need is a new blog feature that will be posted here every week. This will be a way for me to talk anything about books. It will be broken up into sections so that it's a bit more organized (at least I hope so!) Please tell me what you think of this feature!

Book Recommendations:

Are there any books that you would recommend to me that you have read and think that are good? They don't have to be new, just have to be good.

Book Covers:

Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch

I love how everything blends together in the background! The colors, the design on her eye, and the text! If I was walking by it, it would definitely catch my eye!

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Don't you just love everything about this cover? Just look at where the sun is positioned! And the wings! I think I'm in love! =)

Books Finds:

Book of Love by Abra Ebner

This one sounds like an interesting story. I read the excerpt on the author's website and it looked very interesting.

Folly by Marthe Jocelyn

It seems like it takes time in Victorian London and I love the Victorian times and everything that has to do with those times. This just makes me to really, really want to read it!

So what do you think? Like the covers?

Book Blogger Hop (8)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun new meme hosted by Crazy For Books. Enter your link and go hop around other blogs that are out there to read! You never know what great blogs you can find!

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Published: December 22, 2009
Pages: 372
Rating: 5/5
Summary: A Prodigal Son
                A Dangerous Love
                A Deadly Secret
Grace Divine--daughter of the local pastor--always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.
Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.
As Grave gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherished the most: her soul.

Review: I had high hopes in this book and I'm glad that I wasn't let down!

The story revolves around the mystery have what happened the day Daniel disappeared and Jude came home covered in blood. Grace has always wanted to know what really happened that day but everyone refuses to tell her. As she tries to help Daniel, she starts to notice that things really are bad and she starts to find out what happened.

I found that I didn't mind hearing the story from Grace's point of view. She didn't really annoy me or made me want to stop reading. I liked how she wanted to find out what happened but when no one would tell her she went out herself and tried to find the answers. I don't know if I would have been brave enough to do what she did but I'm glad she followed what she wanted to do.

I liked learning of who Daniel really was. The flashbacks that were given in the book helped the reader know more of the life that he had gone through. Even though everyone disliked him and no one wanted to even mention his name, I still wanted to know more of him. He was the boy who had a bad past but who was trying to become someone better.

I'm glad that I decided to get this book. It was something that was already out there but the mythology was totally different and that's something that I really enjoyed! I would totally recommend this book to others who wanted to enjoy a good story!

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. This week I couldn't get books from the library because we had the book fair. =( I did get some books though. =)

Borrowed:

The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan

I've been looking to see if my library had this book and they do but it's checked out. So I borrowed it from someone because I refused to skip a book and read it.

Bought:

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

I had read Perfect Chemistry before and I fell in love with it. I'm glad to say that I also fell in love with Rules of Attraction!