Friday, July 31, 2009

In My Mail Box (4)

In My Mailbox was originally started by Kristi, The Story Siren, and she was inspired to create it by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Basically it's just a fun way to let everyone who wants to know what you've been reading (*coughcough* Hoarding...*cough/gag*), what you plan to read (look at, ponder reading, eventually return to the library due to due date restrictions), and what you ARE reading.

Thanks To Kristi for starting this, and don't forget that you can make your VERY OWN In My Mailbox post and add it to the IMM blogger links list attached at the end of all of Kristi's IMM posts! ^^

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This weeks books are....

As you Wish by Jackson Pearce (Eeek! I started it, and kudos to Jackson cause it's as adorable as I thought it'd be so far!)

Max by James Patterson (Technically I'm totally cheating here... e_e I just finished the first book but I don't know when I'll have time to read them all and it's so confusing finding the right one so I thought I might just double check on Fang and Max's relationship before deciding to continue the series... *collectivegasps* I know! I'm terrible! BUT you still have time to convince me not to look.... *hinthint*)

Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott (Kieran follows me on twitter, and she's awesome so I've been meaning to read this one!)

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman (Been wanting to read FOREVER! Eek!)

And Meridian by Amber Kizer (The cover looks brillient!)

That's it for this week! Sorry for no picture but my camera isn't working and I'm already late posting as it is! X_x

xoxoxo

Saturday, July 25, 2009

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox was originally started by Kristi, The Story Siren, and she was inspired to create it by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Basically it's just a fun way to let everyone who wants to know what you've been reading (*coughcough* Hoarding...*cough/gag*), what you plan to read (look at, ponder reading, eventually return to the library due to due date restrictions), and what you ARE reading.

Thanks To Kristi for starting this, and don't forget that you can make your VERY OWN In My Mailbox post and add it to the IMM blogger links list attached at the end of all of Kristi's IMM posts! ^^

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Haul this week! I was so excited and kind of nervous at the same time! XD It seems kind of Daugnting having so much to read, but they all look so good! T_T Oh well, I'll get everything finished eventually.... e.e definitely...



This weeks books are:

Secret Society by Tom Dolby (Looks amazing!)

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr (Eep! Love Seth!)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (For a book club, and general knowledge. XP)

Rome: Antonio and Carrie Book 3 in the Year Abroad Trilogy by Rachel Hawethorne (*Want's to go abroad so badly...* X_x From Book Mooch)

Captive Hearts #2 by Matsuri Hino (Matsuri Hino is an amazing artist, if your thinking about giving manga a try def. look her up first.)

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets Six Word Memoirs by Teens Edited by Smith Magazine (Read already in one sitting, very nicely done, review to come.)

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (Bookmooch, looks cute. :))

Duplikate by Cherry Chena

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis (So excited to read this one, look out for Werewolf week starting on the 17th of August!)

Night's Child Sweep Series #15 by Cate Tiernan (Been putting off rapping up this series for must, but alas it must happen eventually. ;_; *LOVE*)

The Demons Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (I hear it's fab. MUST READ.)

Eep! So excited! lol How'd everyone else do this week?

xoxoxo

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Alice in Wonderland Teaser LEAKED!


Omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg!

I'm SOOOOOOO excited right now!!! Eep!

If you live in a cave and know nothing of this, Tim Burton is redoing Alice in Wonderland with his peeps (Helena, Johnny, and additionally Anne Hathaway (!)) In a spectcular way! Take a look at THIS to see what I mean! ;)

I'm so glad we FINALLY could see a bit of Johnny acting as the hatter, and I think from what we've seen so far, he's rocking it! I'm a huge Johnny fan already, but this is a really out there role so I'll be so happy to see him pull it off, as I know he will, with such style.

I don't think I've seen other movies with the girl who plays Alice, but she looks kinda like alice to me, so I'm thinking she'll be good too! And of course Helena! :P

Also, I really (really, really) want to read the book before I see the movie though cause I've only ever seen the Disney Movie version.

Anyways, they seriously have done a great job, and I can't wait to watch it!!! They better have a midnight showing! ;)

What do you guys think??

Monday, July 20, 2009

Birthday Fun

Happy Birthday to me! I had a party with friends this week in which i got about 5 Barnes and Noble gift cards to spend how I may (Most of it's gone now sadly... T_T), Blue Moon by Alyson Noel, A Target gift card (Makeup, hair products, cds, and movies are also high on the list of things I like to obsess over! 8D), and THESE!



Get ready for some FUN Twilight series reinactments via youtube people! LOL

Anyways, back to the B&N gift cards, I bought.... Fragile Eternity, Prophecy of the Sisters (WOOT!), and a book about Meditating (There's so much stress in my life... X_x lol kidding! Sorta... e.e)

And I'm waiting very impatiently for Shiver to come out so must save a little money for that! *grabby hands*

All and all good birthday! :) I've had like 5 party/ get together/ treat type things this year, so I'm doing very well! lol

YAY for being older! :P

Sunday, July 19, 2009

YOU Interview AUTHORS!

So I'm in the process of gathering questions for authors Cyn Balog (Fairy Tale) and Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Crazy beautiful) And I want questions from YOU!

*Can't promise all of the questions posted here will be used as this can't be a never ending interview, but I'll try and fit in as many as possible. :)

xoxoxo

RG

Saturday, July 18, 2009

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox was originally started by Kristi, The Story Siren, and she was inspired to create it by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Basically it's just a fun way to let everyone who wants to know what you've been reading (*coughcough* Haurding...*cough/gag*), what you plan to read (look at, ponder reading, eventually return to the library due to due date restrictions), and what You ARE reading. Thanks To Kristi for starting this, and don't forget that you can make your VERY ON In My Mailbox post and add it to the IMM blogger links list attached at the end of all of Kristi's IMM posts! ^^

Not a ton of books actually IN MY MAILBOX this week, but finally, FINALLY (!) I got Prophecy of the Sisters and that one was super important to me! XD *wootwoot* lol



Also got Blue Moon by Alyson Noel which I was also super excited about, (Evermore all the way!) and The Vampire Diaries book 1 (includes first two books since they were originally published years ago and have been reprinted for the new vampire age.) by L.J. Smith, and 30 Days to Finding and Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFS by Clea Hantman because the cover it adorable, and actually I've been having some friendship issues lately, so I definitely want to learn how to take better care of my girlys (and guys xP).

Woot! PLUS I was so excited cause I finally packaged up my Book-Mooches today! I've been holding them hostage until I could actually get the packaging and I feel so bad for the folks who've been waiting, but this is my first time sending so hopefully I'll get better at it! XD

xoxoxo

Sunday, July 12, 2009

In My Mailbox/ Too Many Books Tuesday MESHED (?)


First ever "In My Mailbox"! Wooo! hehe

But, before I get started, I do have one question for those of you who are regulars: What number am I supposed to put in the ( )'s in the title? Date? In My Mailbox Number? Much appreciated! >_<

ALSO! I haven't done my "Too Many Books Tuesday" for about a week because I've decided to do it on the weekend so I can be apart of the In My Mailbox post group thingy. XP So THIS IS STILL TOO MANY BOOKS TUESDAY, just on Sunday with a new post name. XP

And now, THE BOOKS! 8D

In My Mailbox was originally started by Kristi, The Story Siren, and she was inspired to create it by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Basically it's just a fun way to let everyone who wants to know what you've been reading (*coughcough* Haurding...*cough/gag*), what you plan to read (look at, ponder reading, eventually return to the library due to due date restrictions), and what You ARE reading. Thanks To Kristi for starting this, and don't forget that you can make your VERY ON In My Mailbox post and add it to the IMM blogger links list attached at the end of all of Kristi's IMM posts! ^^

Quite a haul this week actually, with not having done a TMBT post for a week or two (In massive preparation of this post *ohyesh*) and just generally being a book hoarder, it seems like I've got tons! *maniacal eye glint* So For this week only (hopefully) I'm going to show all of the covers but only single out a few that I was super excited about so this won't be a never-ending post.




Here we have...

Bookmooch:

Witch by Christopher Pike (Seemed right up my ally! xP)

Wicca Series (Sweep Series)book #5 Awakening (I LOVE this series, can't say enough how AMAZING and AWESOME it is. Probably one of my all time favorite series', it is just that good. And so, naturally, I have to collect both the American and British versions! The UK one is just sooo cool looking! *_* Anywho! *girlyexcitment*)


ARC's "In My Mailbox":

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (EEP! All I can say! lol Can't wait to start it, and the cover is even more breathtaking in "person"!)

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Bareatz-Logsted (READ! It was soooo good! Review and Interview soon!)

Devoured by Amanda Marrone (Cover is gorgeous!)

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog (Literally JUST finished it, it was sooo adorable! Review soon!)

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart (LOVED The Disreputable History of Frankie Landow Banks, can't wait to read more by this author!)


Library:
The Forest of Hands and teeth Audio book by Carrie Ryan Narrated by Vane Millon (Honestly I'm a huge chicken, so I'm a little scared to read this one.. XD But Kami tells me it's fabulous so I shall give it a try! Plus i miss audio books! I used to listen to them ALL THE TIME when I was younger but lately not so much! So it'll be good to get back into them, and seriously if you haven't before, having somebody read the story too you takes it to a whole nutha' level, so try it if you can! ^^)

Bass Ackwords and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain (Got the 2nd book from the Library a while back but returned it and saw this one on the self last week so I snatched it up. Looks very cute! ^^)

Tips On Having a Gay Ex-Boyfriend by Carrie Jones (Sounded good! 8D)

Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You by Peter Cameron (Heard good things about this one, worried it might be sad just from the title though the back says it's funny so who knows (?? getting mixed messages! T_T) but I like coming of age stories so I'm excited to read it!)


Woot! So there you have it, first In My Mailbox and it felt good! 8D lol

If any of you reading this now have In My Mailbox posts send me a link? Love to hear what everybody round the blogosphere's been reading! ^^

xoxoxo

Friday, July 10, 2009

Awards!



From Steph Bowe, The Humane Award.

This award is to honor certain bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn't for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendship through the blog world.



AND The Kreativ Blogger Award:
This is also a meme, so here are the rules: If you accept it, you are supposed to list seven of your favorite things and nominate seven blogs that deserve this award.

1. BOOKS! 8D
2. AUTHORS!
3. Movies. XP
4. Clothes
5. coffee!
6. My Characters
7. My Mommy! 0:) *hehe*


And the seven fab blogs I nominate for BOTH of these awards are...

1. Persnickety Snark
2. A Flight of Minds
3. Presenting Lenore
4. Just Blinded Book Reviews
5. The Faeire Drink Review
6. Bloody Bookaholic
7. Ravenous Reader

Thanks again to Steph for the wonderful awards!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

And the Winner is....

Darelaine who followed me on Twitter! Congratulations!

Email me your adress and I'll get you your signed paperback of Generation Dead ASAP! ^^

IN OTHER BLOGS: Bloody Bookaholic is hosting a cool contest for a copy of Meridian by Amber Kizer!

Eep! I want! hehe

xoxoxo

RG

Friday, July 3, 2009

Interview With Daniel Waters!

What inspired you to write Generation Dead?

The idea for GD came from when I was in a hotel channel surfing, and I stopped to watch a newsmagazine program about violence in schools. basically, kids were having fights or engaging in random acts of violence just so they could film it and put the clips on YouTube. The show ran a few of those clips and I was horrified. I started thinking about all the reasons why a kid would and could hurt another kid, and for some reason as I was thinking this the thought that if zombies existed, they would be the most persecuted kids in the school. I started to wonder what they would do if a zombie tried to take a living girl to the prom!


How has writing Generation Dead and Kiss of Life and learning more about the lives of your "differently biotic" characters shaped your thoughts about death and life in general?


Writing about the characters and what they are trying to do, as well as what they've gone through, constantly forces me to examine life as a transient state of existence. Our time here on this planet is temporary and life--everyone's life--is precious. It makes me constantly aware of what kind of life I want to lead and what I want to leave behind when I'm gone.


So far this is the second Generation Dead novel, but the story seems far from being over. How many more books do you think you'll write in the series?

The story is far from over. I'm anticipating at least five books plus a book of short stories. We'll see.


What about future projects? What evil plans have you been making?

Evil plans? I'm one of the good guys. I've got a few other projects I'd like to unleash on the world when the time is right.


Along with your personal blog you run mysocalleddeath based off of the site that your character Tommy runs, what kind of things do you post there?

Tommy posts news items of interest to the zombie community, updates on his friends, and pieces of his general philosophy. Every so often Karen or Phoebe will post as well. The "zombie meme" they created is pretty popular.


Have you ever thought of making a play list of music that Phoebe and Tommy would listen too?

Well, Tommy isn't quite the music nut that Phoebe is. She has a playlist but it is about a hundred songs long and counting.

(Actually, Dan posted a link on his log a while after doing the interview about this question, and gives us a link to an interview he did at Largehearted Boy giving us some songs from his writing playlists!

Also he just recently did a blog about some groups Phoebe would <3 here!



What's you're writing process like? Is there sweets involved?

Haphazard and ever evolving. I drink a lot of (very sweet) coffee and diet cola.


What were some of the books you were required to read in school? Did you enjoy any of them? If so, which ones?

Hm. High school, you mean? I seem to remember reading The Scarlet Letter, Hard Times, Frankenstein, various Greek myths, Persuasion, Wuthering Heights, Of Mice and Men, The Sun Also Rises, The House of the Seven Gables, Dubliners, Walden, lots of Shakespeare. Maybe I dreamt it all. I enjoyed them all but some more than others.


What's the most recent book you've read and LOVED?

The Gum Thief by Douglas Coupland, and Palomar by Gilbert Hernandez, which is a huge graphic novel that collects all the Palomar stories he did in Love and Rockets.


Finish this sentence.... "I am the biggest fan of....?"

The cosmic all.

Thanks Daniel for the week, and can't wait for the next book!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Contest Extended

Decided to extend the contest until next Friday since I'll prolly be MIA this weekend. XP Happy (early) Fourth!

RG

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Ok, taking a breather from zombies, just wanna say how stoked I am for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater! I can't can't wait to read her book, and as if I wasn't excited enough, she's posted this awesome home video about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX82ggGCF7c&feature=player_embedded

MUST. READ.

*love*

RG

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters Review

Summery:

Since Adam crossed the bridge from life to undeath, things for Phoebe haven’t been easy. She’s wracked with guilt over the fact that he lost his life trying to save hers, and she’s dealing with the emotional turmoil that arose when Tommy wasn’t willing to take the same risk. In fact she hasn’t spoken for Tommy for months for just that reason.

While taking care of Adam’s family, and help Adam recover from the change of becoming a zombie is a daunting task, Phoebe complies, seeing it as her responsibility to help; a way to repay Adam’s undying love. But does she love him?

Every day she spends with him she feels more and more like the answer is yes, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten all about Tommy. Not at all. As much as she wants to mend the rift in their relationship she can’t get over the fact that Adam lost his life because of Tommy, and that Tommy could’ve taken the bullet and not-lived to tell the tale.

Then, with the arrival of two new guests at the Hunter Foundation, trouble arises. There have been more and more cases of the infamous white vans killing innocent differently biotic teens and their care takers and the new students didn’t escape an attack unscathed.

But worse, thinking they’ve come to the Hunter Foundation for a safe place to live, they, and all the other Differently Biotic club kids, are finding out that a conspiracy may be haunting the halls of the foundation, and if word gets out, the whole place will come down in ruins. The zombies begin the split into two halves, the innocent deaths that want to find a way to unite the world, and the startling monsters from our legends, out for revenge against those who have wronged them, and everybody else too.

Things are changing in the zombie world, and whether for better or for worse we don’t know, but by the end of this captivating sequel, we know for sure that a war is coming, and we’re on team zombie.


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Review:

I actually think I may have liked this one better... I don't know how, but SOMEHOW Daniel Waters has outdone himself. Kiss of Life was somehow even better then the first book. More intriguing, exciting, shocking, and amazing then I'd even imagined.

Though I was sad at Tommy's departure I was happy in a way that Adam was with Phoebe and that all seemed semi well with them in the end. Still though, I can't decide if I'm hoping for her to stay with Adam, or be with Tommy. =/ I think I'm just about as confused and Phoebe herself on that one.

But all and all a terrifically captivating read! I can't WAIT for the next book! Eeeep!


5 flowers!




Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Generation Dead Review/ Win SIGNED Paperback Copy

Summery:

Phoebe Kendall’s not exactly popular at her school. Her black hair and Goth wardrobe tend to send out a “don’t come hither” vibe, and when she starts hanging out with Zombies, things only get worse.

Though joining the newly formed Hunter Foundation for the “Differently Biotic”, a research facility that also serves as a home for zombies in need, seemed like a good idea at the time, the piles of hate mail, and bullies in and out of school who are against the zombies rights to live are making it seem like a bad one.

In the first book, Phoebe meets Tommy, a differently biotic boy who joins the school football team, facing opposition from the start, not only from the parents, teachers, and general community, but even from his team mates. The other boys don’t want Tommy on the team, and not just because being differently biotic makes him move slower than a normally biotic person, but because he’s a zombie.

All the boys threaten and bully Tommy to the point where someone else might have quit the team all together, but Tommy sticks it out with the help of the only player on the team who’s semi-sensitive to Differently Biotic relations.

Enter Adam, former football bully turned enlightened martial arts master. He’s got a huge thing for his childhood friend Phoebe and when Phoebe shows an interest in Tommy it makes trying to be friendly a little hard, but Tommy’s got bigger problems then Adam’s grudge. Pete, Adam’s former best friend and newly appointed enemy has it out for all of the undead since his girlfriend Julie died and didn’t come back to life.

Meanwhile, Phoebe’s started going out with Tommy, making things tense between her, Adam, and Tommy. As her feelings for Tommy grow, she can’t help but wonder if she’s falling in love with a Zombie. Then, Tommy tells her that he’s heard a kiss from your one true love might be able to bring you back from the undead, and the revelation sets Phoebe to thinking he might just be using her to get another chance at the life he lost.


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Review:

Can't say enough how much I LOVED this book! The charicters were very relatable (even the zombies) and the only one I really didn't like was Pete but I think that was mostly to be expected. >_< Actually the chapters in his POV bothered me a little because I wanted to get back to Phoebe's story (And Tommy.... *Swoooon*) and I found them pretty depressing because of all of the Zombie bashing, *doesn't read sad books* but they have an important place in the story so I was glad that I'd kept with it in the end. :P

Phoebe as a main character is so cool to me, I think part of the reason is that she dares to be different even if that means having Adam pretend not to be BFFs with her at first, or getting strange looks in the hall. It's like she's above caring so much that it brings her down, and that made her seem really strong.

I loved the progression of her relationship with Tommy and how he seemed to say so much with few words. *giggle* It was like it developed on a mental level really deeply because it was hard for him to communicate and that was just insanely cool to me.

Adam = <3! Whether I'd choose him over Tommy I'm still undecided about, but Adam's a really stand up guy and somebody I'd love to know in real life!

Margie's fun, her prejudice against the zombies put me off a little in the beginning but you know, she's Margie so I forgave her... ;)

Other then the Pete chapters that slowed it down a bit for me, the plot flowed really nicely, the story was really original, and well writtenm and I was really happy I'd read the book in the end! I'd actually been wanting to buy it for MONTHS before I was finally able to, so I was so glad when I finally got to read it, and liked it a ton! ^^

Would definetely recomend this one to anybody who will listen! XD





And now... how to win a SIGNED paperback copy of Generation Dead!

First Entry: Comment and tell me about you're favorite Zombie out of Dan's books.

+1 Follow me on Twitter. (And Tweet me! Seriously, I love hearing from you guys! ;P)

+1 Follow Dan's Blog. (I'm sure he'd love to hear from you too!)

+2 Link this post to your blog, or tweet, facebook, myspace, whatever it and leave me a link.

+3 Take, draw, paint, or photoshop a picture inspired by Generation Dead/ Kiss of Life, and email it to me. (Or post it on your blog, send me a link to it on photobucket, whatever.)

+5 Make a Video inspired by Zombies and leave me a link in your entry post.

Leave a comment about whatever you're doing to enter, and for postage reasons, USA entries only please, sorry!

There you have it! Go enter, and good luck! Enjoy the rest of Daniel Waters week!

xoxoxo