In My Mailbox - Week 10

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's to show y'all what amazing books I bought/borrowed/received this week! I feel too lazy today, so I'll post pics, sorry no vlog!.

Borrowed:

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman (Amazon❘Goodreads)


Borrowed from Friend:

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (Amazon❘Goodreads)


Bought:

(There was a huge booksale at school, so I got a whole bunch!)


Jessica Darling: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (Amazon❘Goodreads)
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White *(Bought at Borders) (Amazon❘Goodreads)
Confessions of Georgia Nicholson: Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants by Louise Rennison (Amazon❘Goodreads)
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (Amazon❘Goodreads)
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (Amazon❘Goodreads)
Wicked: Witch & Curse by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié (Amazon❘Goodreads) 




Well, that's what I got this week! What did you get?? Leave a link/comment!

Booking Through Thursday - Week 8

"Booking Through Thursday" is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. This week's BTT asks:

All other things being equal–do you prefer used books? Or new books? (The physical speciman, that is, not the title.) Does your preference differentiate between a standard kind of used book, and a pristine, leather-bound copy?

OMG This question is perfect for this week...you know why?? Because I went to a book sale recently!


I actually don't mind old books. They, however still need to be:


1) Readable
2) Clean
3) No Torn Pages! (okay, if it's like a tiny rip, no biggie :D)


but yeah, I prefer newer books, because well, I love the covers, the smell of it and generally because I love book gazing and much prefer to look at new books and it's in my mind that they are new and need to be taken care of more than the other books...well, kinda.


But generalement, je ne suis pas care about old books or new books. Love them all!


That was my answer...what's yours? Leave a link/comment!

Confessions of a Readaholic: Seven Facts Award

Hey Guys!


I received another amazing award, this one from Nadea of Candy Chapstick! It's the Seven Facts Award! Thank you so much! I love it so much :) and here's what I have to do!

Things to do:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.

2. Post seven random facts about yourself.

3. Pass on the award along to 15 other worthy bloggers.

Seven Facts about me:

1. I'm the oldest child :)
2. I got the title of this blog (Confessions of a Readaholic) right after watching Confessions of a Shopaholic.
3. I used to have chickens as pets.
4. I have a toy bear named Boog (from Open Season) and an orange moose named Vector (after the Despicable Me character).
5. I have an obsession with Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.
6. I have a scrapbook for Confessions of a Readaholic (I should do a "tour" of that soon :P).
7. Right now, I'm listening to Taylor Swift's song, Haunted.


and here's my bestowing!!! (no particular order)


Ecered
Amanda's Writings
Hooked to Books
Reading Cause I'm Addicted

Enchanting YA Reviews

Chick Lit Teens
Late Bloomer Online
Teens Read and Write
Pages of Adventure
I Read to Relax!
Cornucopia of Reviews
Here's To Us
Lost in the Library
My Girl Friday
Simply Books


Congrats to all the winners :D Happy Reading everyone!

WWW Wednesdays - Week 8

"WWW Wednesdays" is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Just do the following:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:


What are your currently reading?


I'm currently read Solid by Shelley Workinger (Amazon❘Goodreads). It's so good! Loving it and just got to the amazing climax :)

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Amazon❘Goodreads). It was so good and really deep! Review coming soon.

What do you think you'll read next?


I think I'd either read Shine by Lauren Myracle (Amazon❘Goodreads) or Somber Island by T. Lynne Tolles (Amazon❘Goodreads). They both sound really fantastic!

Well, those are my answers! Which book should I read next? What did you recently read? What are you reading now? Leave a link/comment!

Waiting on Wednesday – Week 10

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. It's to spotlight upcoming releases which I'm DYING to read!


A Book I can't wait for is:


Abandon
by Meg Cabot
Publication Date: April 26th, 2011


(from Goodreads)

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

When Pierce first sees him, she thinks he is a murderer. She's right about one thing -- he does take lives. But not in the way she ever imagined. Pierce is drawn to the dark stranger even as she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the tragic death of someone close to her. As she gets closer to the truth -- and the stranger -- unexpected secrets are revealed, even in her own heart.

OMGGGGGG!!! I CANT WAIT! Meg Cabot is my auto-buy author. I HAVE to get this one! :) Love her paranormal series and no duh, I'm gonna love this one as well.

What are you "waiting on" this week? Leave a link/comment!

Teaser Tuesdays - Week 8

"Teaser Tuesdays" is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's My Teaser:


Had she been waiting for me? I realized that I didn't even know if there was a curfew around her, but I couldn't be late if when there were still other kids outside.
She closed Slaughterhouse Five - in my opinion, one of the most painful books on any high school reading list, but for some reason all the agency people seemed to get into it - and greeted me with a smile.


~p. 37, Solid by Shelley Workinger (ARC)

Top Ten Tuesday - Week 10

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today's (or Tuesday's) Top Ten is: Top Ten Book to Movie Adaptions.

1. Harry Potter. I love these movies! I think the most successful series of movies to date, I'm sure :)

2. Lord of the Rings. I LOVE THIS SERIES! Soooo good, can't wait for The Hobbit!

3. Chronicles of Narnia. Aside from the latest one, which I didn't enjoy so much, the movies are amazing! Totally captured the fantasy of the novel.

4. Stardust. This movie was sooo good! I read the book after (I didn't acutally know there was a book until someone lent it to me :P) and it was amazing :).

5. The Golden Compass. I totally agree with The Broke and the Bookish. This movie was really good, even though it got bad reviews. Nicole Kidman really played amazingly in this movie!

6. A Series of Unfortunate Events. GODS. I have no idea how many times I've watched this movie. Must have been at least 10? 15? I don't know. It's amazing! Loved Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep!

7. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I really loved the first movie (the second movie I didn't get to see so well...I watched some of it on YouTube) and the books are amazing! Loved it.

8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Okay, this movie didn't turn out to be the way I had expected it to be, but the effects were really good. and LOGAN LERMAN's in it!!!

9. Pretty Little Liars. Okay, I know. It's a TV SHOW. Big deal. I love this series so much, even though they changed quite a bit, but STILL! It's just sooo...creepy. and good. so it's creepily good.

10. The Spiderwick Chronicles. This movie is amazing! They created such a fantastical world and amazing creatures.

Well, that was my Top Ten...what's yours? Leave a link/comment!

Musing Mondays - Week 8

"Musing Mondays" is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Here's this weeks question:

In honor of the Canadian “Family Day” holiday, today, I’m curious…What was the last book (or, what was your favorite book) that dealt with family? What did you like / dislike about it?

Well, I actually read a couple of books recently which dealt with family...

the first being What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Pérez. Marisa has a constant pressure with her family. She wants to get into University, but her parents don't approve and want her home to earn money and take care of the house. She is pushed around by her parents and her older siblings, and so that was a really interesting story!

Another one I read was Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was so amazing! I loved it and one of the saddest parts of this story is her relationship with her parents. Her parents are more concerned about their work rather than her, and they wont take notice of her...even when something deep down, is keeping her silent.

Both book reviews are coming soon and this was another Musing Monday (done on a Friday)! What's your musing? Leave a link/comment!

   

Cover Love - Week 9

"Cover Love" is a weekly meme I've adapted from 21 Pages. Here's this week's Cover Love theme (and one I thought was really cool from 21 Pages): Books with Hearts on the Cover.

The First one (or rather ones) I thought was the most obvious choice. The L.A. Candy series by Lauren Conrad.

(sorry for the out of order thing!)

L.A. Candy (Amazon❘Goodreads)

Sweet Little Lies (Amazon❘Goodreads)

Sugar and Spice (Amazon❘Goodreads)

I really want to read this one! The Sky is Everywhere (Amazon❘Goodreads) by Jandy Nelson.

I Love this book so much! :D The first Sarah Dessen I've ever read, This Lullaby (Amazon❘Goodreads).

Here's another one on my long wishlist! Twenty Boy Summer (Amazon❘Goodreads) by Sarah Ockler.

and lastly, a couple of amazing Meg Cabot's with Hearts on them :)

Every Boy's Got One (Amazon❘Goodreads)

Jinx (Amazon❘Goodreads)

Teen Idol (Amazon❘Goodreads)

Boy Meets Girl (Amazon❘Goodreads)

How To Be Popular (Amazon❘Goodreads)

The Princess Diaries, 3: Princess in Love (Amazon❘Goodreads)

Well, that's it for this week's Cover Love! This would have actually been ideal for Valentine's Day now that I think about it...oh well. What books do you love? Leave a link/comment!

On My Wishlist - Week 5

"On My Wishlist" is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City. The book can be old, new or upcoming. It's just to show one book that I really want to read from my crazy long wishlist.

One Book on My Wishlist:


Jenny Green's Killer Junior Year
by Amy Belasen & Jacob Osborn


(from Goodreads)

Hell hath no fury...

Jenny Green is a spoiled teen "princess" and the newest junior at Montreal's Molson Academy. Jenny wants a fresh start in her new school, and she's curious to see what Montreal has to offer, most especially in the boy department. Beautiful, charming, and sharp-witted, Jenny has no trouble getting the boys to fall for her.

But when she discovers just how despicable the male gender can be — with the lying, the cheating, and the utter disrespect — she decides to make them pay...with their lives.

This one is in the library...so I should definitely check it out :)

Interview with Gae Polisner

Today I'm thrilled at having Gae Polisner, author of the upcoming YA book The Pull of Gravity (Amazon❘Goodreads) on my blog. She's really sweet and funny, and I can't wait to read her upcoming book! Without any further delay, here's Gae Polisner!

Random Questions:


What kind of Music do you like listening to?

I’m one of those people who likes a little bit of lots of different things: some older classics like The Beatles, Steely Dan, Van Morrison, but then some newer stuff like Plain White T’s, Vampire Weekend, Ray Lamontagne… even though my older son hates me for it, I also love a lot of dance and rap stuff too, because it wakes me up and makes me feel happy. I have a running joke about trying to learn to shake my a** like Shakira. I practice a lot and am getting closer. 

What is one Book you've read recently?

Recently, I’ve been on a kick of reading -- or rereading -- the books of the amazing authors that have praised The Pull of Gravity on the back cover. Each one is unbelievably awesome. In no particular order: KL Going, King of the Screwups; Chris Crutcher, Deadline; Lynne Rae Perkins, As Easy as Falling off the Face of the Earth; Francisco X. Stork, Marcello in the Real World (maybe one of my favorite books of all time); and Mary E. Pearson, The Miles Between. I could quote you passages from any one of these books and you would swoon. Ok, I would swoon. ☺ I know, I know, that wasn’t one, that was five. I can count; I just don’t follow directions. 

What is your favorite book(s) of all time?

lol. See above. But also, a few more all-time favorites: A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Wrinkle In Time, The History of Love, and almost anything that William Goldman ever wrote including The Princess Bride which was a book long before it was a movie. Er, there’s that not-following-directions thing again.

What's your favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

Mint chocolate chip? I’m really more of a frozen yogurt (Red Mango/Crazy Yogurt) kind of a girl. In which case, I really like the tangy original flavor. With fresh fruit and toasted coconut on top. Mmmm, coconut. 

Dream Vacation Spot?

I was in St. Maarten in college. I want to go back. I’d also love to go back to Italy.

What is your favorite TV Show/Movie? Favorite Actor/Actress?

I’m a big Chopped fan. And Top Chef, and Project Runway. I also love Entourage and Mad Men. And Jon Hamm. Mmmm, John Hamm. I’m a pretty big Jesse Eisenberg fan too. But I also love Alec Baldwin. Hmmm. What was the question again? *looks back over schizophrenic answer and shakes head*

Serious (ish :D) Questions: uh oh.


What gave you the Inspiration for The Pull of Gravity?

A few things. I was writing women’s fiction but was reading aloud nightly to my two sons, then like 8 and 10 (yes, I was reading YA to them then). And we could never find enough really good contemporary YA fiction with male main characters (MC’s). My boys didn’t love sci-fi or fantasy or anything. So I decided I would try to write one. I’ve always loved young adult fiction. As for storyline inspiration, both the Dad character and the Scoot were inspired by separate newspaper articles. I just sort of wove them together. Then tied them to Nick (my MC). But Nick was a little low-key and indecisive and needed some focus and inspiration, which is how Jaycee Amato came along. She is anything but those things. ☺

What made you want to become a Writer?

I wrote from the time I was little, so the better question is why did it take me so long to become one? I wrote a ton through elementary school, high school and college, but then decided I wanted to go to law school. Then I became a lawyer and had kids and all of that kept me busy. It took me a long time to get back to my creative writing. I’ve been a lot of things. A writer is what I always wanted to be.

What is the significance/meaning of the Title? How did you choose it?

Ah, the magic question. I’ll give you a hint: it comes from a Yoda quote. And the quote is significant in the story. ☺ The original title the book sold under was Steinbeck, The Scoot, and the Pull of Gravity. No one could remember the right order, so we all (my agent, my editor and I) agreed it should be shortened to The Pull of Gravity. I do love the title.

What do you hope readers take from The Pull of Gravity?

Someone else asked me this the other day. Not anything really specific. Not a lesson or a moral or anything. More a visceral feeling. I hope my readers remember my characters fondly, almost as if they are real people. I hope they remember moments from the book like snapshots. I hope there’s an overriding sense of relating and going, that could be me. And if it is me now or one day, I hope I have a friend like Nick or Jaycee to pull me through the rough spots. Or that my life is influenced by someone just a little extraordinary like the Scoot. 

Other than Writing, what do you like to do in your Spare Time?

When I’m not writing, I’m either working at my day job (I’m still a practicing lawyer but have limited my practice to family-law mediation), hanging with my family or swimming. I’m a hugely avid swimmer, and from May – October swim in the open waters of the Long Island Sound. Last year was my first OWS year and I already completed my first 5K. Slowly, but finished. The open water is pure bliss for me.

Thank you so much to Gae Polisner for allowing me to interview her, and I hope I can grab a copy of The Pull of Gravity (Amazon❘Goodreads) when it comes out on May 10th! Here's a blurb:

While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him. Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.

Stalk...err, I mean, Visit Gae Polisner:


Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.

Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

I must say, I will never look at TV the same way again.

The Drama, the Love, the Hate...all fake.

The Real Real shows the line where "reality" becomes a fantasy. A Made-up, perfected fantasy. With jealousy behind the scenes and every not turning out who they are supposed to be, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus create a story which is hilarious, but also painfully real.

This book is so original! That's a really big reason why I liked this book. It puts a normal teenage girl into the fake and glamorous world of Reality TV. Speaking of the main character...I loved Jesse! She's just so amazing. She's funny, realistic, smart, and the most important thing, she's a realistic character. She makes mistakes just like everybody else (even though THAT part really caught me off). She seems to get along with  (almost) everyone and she just wants the money to help in funding for college. I just loved the Valentine's Day part. It was so funny, I think I giggled throughout that whole part.


*Sigh*....Drew. One word. DREAMBOAT. I wanna get on that cruise. *SPOILER ALERT* God, during THOSE parts of the book with Jesse and Jase, I just felt like yelling, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!?! He's so amazing. Another amazing guy to my amazing (amazingly long) hot/cute book guy characters list (I should totally do a post on that soon :P)!


Another character I found likeable was Nico, as even though she's the popular and perfect girl *SPOILER ALERT* she's not so perfect...if you get what I mean. With her hilarious messy eating and her sad family relationship with her dad, her world isn't crystal!


Jase. Not much to say except HATE HIM. I felt like screaming at Nico for actually liking this jerk. His friend (his name escapes me) seems sweet though. Like, a hilarious minor character. I also found Jesse's friend (who's name also escapes me) kinda mean and self-centered. I mean, friends are supposed to look out for each other and understand. The "friend" clearly doesn't do so. And OMG Trisha! Hate that girl so much, I think I would rather eat a whole tub of slugs then actually have to talk to that @#!^$.


Overall, The Real Real is a very humorous and well-put together book. With every shooting, a new element is added in which changes the characters, in ways that you won't expect. You'll be cheering on the cast as they progress through every painful moment. One of the best reads about TV Entertainment I've ever read! Should get my hands on the Nanny Diaries one day as well. Sorry for the short review, but trust me, The Real Real shows the truth behind what's real and the real real.