A weekly meme that asks bloggers to post their opinions on specific topics.
(hosted on Wordpress)

This week's topic: 2009 in Review

I started this blog in October after rediscovering my love of blogging and reading. I started hoarding books that caught my interest during the frequent visits Ah Yuan of GAL Novelty and I paid to the used and franchise bookstores when we met every month. I now have a sizable mountain of books on my desk (don't own a bookshelf) and frequently turn to books when I'm not watching Asian dramas or doing translations.

That said, I'm still quite slow in pushing out reviews and not quite "updated" in terms of the publication dates of books I read. It's mostly because I'm not someone who would go and buy hardcover editions of books the moment they come out unless I am absolutely sure I would enjoy it. Next year, I resolve to visit the library more often so I do get a chance to look at these books when they come out.

People have probably also noticed that I don't focus on a particular genre of books, and this non-trend will probably continue for the next year. I don't like limiting myself to any particular genre because I love all kinds of stories, no matter the setting. I also enjoy reading adult novels, though I'm quickly working my way into the young adult shelves as well.

I'm rather disappointed in myself as I haven't been able to complete any of the reading challenges I've signed up for this year - though admittedly I signed up and started working on them in late October. I've signed up for many more next year and will be working hard to try and complete at least the basic levels in each.

BOOK STATS FOR 2009:
Read: 8 (since Nov 2009)
Borrowed: 0
Received: 29 (includes gifts)
Bought: 22
Gifted: 2

Since I haven't read that many books this year, I will just make a short list of the ones I've reviewed so far here (my favourites have a heart beside their title):

FICTION

Kingdom Come by J.G. Ballard ★★★.5
Mélusine by Sarah Monette ★★★.5
♥ The Virtu by Sarah Monette ★★★★
Blood Engines by T.A. Pratt ★★★
♥ The Strangler by William Landay ★★★★.5
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan ★★★.5
♥ Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk ★★★★
♥ The Last Knight by Hilari Bell ★★★★.5

MANGA

♥ Saiyuki by Minekura, Kazuya ★★★★.5
♥ One Piece by Oda, Eiichiro ★★★★
♥ Gintama by Sorachi, Hideaki ★★★★.5

As for books I'm looking forward to next year, I've already ranted about them in my Wishlist Wednesday posts. However, here's the top 10 books (in no particular order) from my TBR pile:


Rogue's Home by Hilari Bell √
Fat Cat by Robin Brande
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
The Rise of Renegade-X by Chelsea Campbell
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Warchild by Karin Lowachee √
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Peter & Max by Bill Willingham
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie √
The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan
(books I actually own have a √ beside them)
I am still working on the new layout - hopefully will have it up tonight - and sorting out the details of my new weekly memes (marked with *). Here's a list of the ones I'll be participating in next year:

Monday - Cover Cravings* (temp. title)
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday / On My Wishlist
Thursday - Booking Through Thursday
Friday - Title Talk* (temp. title)
Sunday - In My Mailbox
Reviews will be posted spontaneously whenever I finish writing them up.

And lastly, I'm hoping to become more active in the blogosphere next year, since I'm usually quite a lurker. I would also like to thank all followers for your support - knowing people read my posts helps boost my motivation =)

That's all for this year, Happy New Years everyone!

A weekly event on my blog where every Wednesday I post about 5-10 books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City)




The Drake Chronicles #1:
My Love Lies Bleeding
aka "Hearts At Stake" in the US
by Alyxandra Harvey
release date: 4 January 2010

The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

Why it's on my wishlist
The story has TWO heroines and they're best friends. PLUS there's overprotective older brother vampires! Pretty rare that there's friendly family dynamics in vampire literature too, so I'm looking forward to trying this out.


Fat Vampire
by Adam Rex
release date: 1 July 2010

Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it’s just not the same.
Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her — hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated — it’s not as easy as studying Dracula. Especially when the star of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings.

Why it's on my wishlist
Overweight vampire of LOL of course! It seems to debunk some cliches of vampire novels these days, but also brings some of its own interpretations to the audience. But mostly the overweight vampire part =D




Wars of Light&Shadow Arc I #1:
The Curse of the Mistwraith
by Janny Wurts
release date: 20 May 1993

The world of Athera lives in eternal fog, its skies obscured by the malevolent Mistwraith. Only the combined powers of two half-brothers can challenge the Mistwraith's stranglehold: Arithon, Master of Shadow and Lysaer, Lord of Light. Arithon and Lysaer will find that they are inescapably bound inside a pattern of events dictated by their own deepest convictions. Yet there is more at stake than one battle with the Mistwraith -- as the sorcerers of the Fellowship of Seven know well. For between them the half-brothers hold the balance of the world, its harmony and its future, in their hands.

Why it's on my wishlist
Ohohohoho, I love love love brotherly dynamics, whether antagonistic or not, so this immediately jumped onto my to-read shelf the moment I read the half-brothers part. Apparently one of the brothers just wants to be a bard, but he's got like, the emo burden of shadow-ness, so he gets manipulated and turned on his brother. I hope the two end up on the same side in the end, but it's fine if it's a surprise!tragedy too 8D


Peter & Max
by Bill Willingham
release date: 13 October 2009

This story stars Peter Piper and his incorrigible brother Max in a tale about jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Set in two distinct time periods, prepare to travel back to medieval times and learn the tragic back-story of the Piper family, a medieval-era family of traveling minstrels. Then, jump into the present to follow a tale of espionage as Peter Piper slowly hunts down his evil brother for a heinous crime, pitting Peter's talents as a master thief against Max's dark magical powers.

Why it's on my wishlist
Erm, apparently in this Peter Piper from the tongue twister and Max "Pied" Piper from the Pied Piper fairy tale are brothers lol I really like what I've seen of the Fables series so far (dark, twisty and witty) so I'm really interested in how Mr. Willingham will spin these two fictional figures into his own dark fairy tale.




Fat Cat
by Robin Brande
release date: 13 October 2009

You are what you eat...
Cat's smart, sassy, and funny — but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment — on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living — and eating — like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.
As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice...
This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

Why it's on my wishlist
The heroine apparently likes math and science. That's way too rare in YA novels, where teenagers seem to all hate numbers. Of course, this book also explores the issue of body image and gender attractions based on looks, which I hope it handles well instead of doing some kind of "but thin is still the best" thing in the end.


The Thin Executioner
by Darren Shan
release date: 1 August 2010

In a brutal nation of warriors, Jebel’s family holds the highest honor: his father is executioner. But Jebel is considered too thin to compete to replace him.
Humiliated and furious, Jebel vows to regain his honor in a quest to petition the fire god for invincibility. The journey is long, filled with unknown monsters. And by the end of it Jebel isn’t quite sure what he wants anymore.
In Darren Shan’s imaginative first standalone novel, he explores themes of religious tolerance and cultural understanding, and champions the idea that peace is often the bravest choice of all.

Why it's on my wishlist
The opposite of the book above, this is a boy worried and unhappy that he's too thin. I've always liked stories about someone going on a journey to fulfill what they think is a great goal, only to find that their perspective was wrong from the beginning. The theme of peace over violence is also another favourite of mine, so I'm really giddy about this particular novel.

That's all for this week, you can see my full wishlist at goodreads.

Just grab your current read, open to a random page, and share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
(hosted at Should Be Reading)

“To be a supervillain, you need to have certain things. Don't bother with a secret identity, that's a hero thing. Not that it wouldn't be convenient to take off the mask and disappear into the crowds, the houses, the working world. Perhaps too convenient -- why become the most audacious criminal mind on Earth (or at least in the top four), only to slink off in the other direction when things get difficult?
from chapter 1 of Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

Though it's less laugh-out-loud funny than I had expected, the sombre tone and dry humour works rather well to make this superhero-populated world rather believable.

I'm in the process of changing my layout for the new year and setting up a few (two to be precise) new weekly features where I rant about covers and titles. I'm not sure if I should put them on Mondays, Fridays, or Saturdays though...
Also, I've switched to linking to Amazon from now on because I realize not everyone shops on Amazon.ca =)

Knight and Rogue #1:
The Last Knight ♥
by Hilari Bell

Need a Hero? You've got one in Sir Michael Sevenson.
Although there hasn't been a knight errant in over two hundred years, this young noble has decided to revive the trade. He's found himself a reluctant partner in Fisk, a clever rogue who has been given the choice of serving as Michael's squire or going to jail for a very long time. Now Michael and Fisk are on a quest to right wrongs, protect the innocent, and make the world a happier place.
It's not going to be easy. On their first attempt at rescuing a damsel in distress, they break a lady out of a tower, only to discover she was there for good reason: awaiting trial for poisoning her husband. Now the would-be heroes must find Lady Ceciel and return her to justice or be condemned themselves.

Why I Read This
I found this book quite by surprise in the teen section of a relatively small Indigo store. The cover was pretty generic, though the two moons and the "Knight and Rogue" line got me to look into it more. I'm a reluctant fan of the BBC Merlin tv show, and this premise sounded rather similar, with an unwilling servant following a kind of dense knight/prince, eventually cultivating a trusting friendship.
The title is kind of generic (even though the font is pretty), but it makes sense in the context of the plot. The dark cover doesn't really fit with the friendship theme of the book that well either. They should have kept the two moons and put in a picture of Michael and Fisk instead of the non-existent magical sword. I love the series title though.

First Lines

“Fisk: To say it was a dark and stormy night would be a gross understatement. It was colder than a witch's kiss, wetter than a spring swamp, and blacker than a tax collector's heart. A sane man would have been curled up in front of a fire, with a cup of mulled wine and a good boo--, ah, a willing wench. But not me. I was out in it. I'm squire to a hero.

☂☂☂☂.5

I was in quite a rush to finish this book because I had bought it with the intent of gifting it to my friend the next day but instead, I became quite captivated by it myself. The mythology and world building is imaginative and original, combining a medieval setting with a unique blend of magic and quite "modern" characters who believe valiant knighthood is outdated. The character voices are distinct and sympathetic, alternating every chapter between the cynical but good-hearted "rogue" Fisk and the stupidly honest but well-meaning "knight" Sir Michael. However, they are not at all stagnant in their traits: Fisk learns to trust and sacrifice, while Michael learns to lie and manipulate. Side characters are also given depth and acknowledged as independent beings with their own character traits and personalities. The story itself was full of both plot and character twists, and it keeps you guessing as to who the real villains are and who is in league with who until the very end. This is one of those books where I would go and buy my own copy later because I enjoyed it that much.

review posted to AmazonCA, Book Depository, goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2009/12/27
Borrowed: 0
Received: 5
Bought: 8
Christmas gifts for friends: 2
Total Cost: $50.88 (gifts not included)

This is for the Mini Contest Week 4 at PageTurners. We're supposed to get together some random words/images and make a book cover. The ones the generator gave me were: Bobby C. Robles (fake name), jeer (random verb) and the image below (from flickrcc).


JEER by Bobby C. Robles
I tried to make it...ominous? With the font and all, so the girls being happy in the background are suspended in a moment that they can never return to...or something OTZ
Oh and I added "a novel" because that seems to be some kind of trend? I always find it rather funny for some reason lol

Just grab your current read, open to a random page, and share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
(hosted at Should Be Reading)

“What was different was that he looked to be made of a convolution of fleshy cords knotted and wrapped around themselves, a mass of twisted tendrils given shape and form. Shape, form, and a hideously twitching life.
"I don't remember that in your goddamn mythology book," I gritted in a low tone to Niko.
from chapter 8 of Nightlife by Rob Thurman

Finally done exams so I should be able to get back to mass reading and hopefully more posts soon =)

This week's teaser is from a book I'm very conflicted about in terms of rating. On the one hand, the dialogue leaves much to be desired. On the other hand, the story is rather original and, as the quote shows, the author gives some very imaginative twists to different mythical beings (trolls in this case). I'll wait until I get to the end of the book before I make any final judgements though.

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2009/12/20
Borrowed: 0
Received: 2
Bought: 0
Total Cost: $0.00

...on a Japanese news site/forum called Searchina!

The title of the article is 『銀魂』の真のテーマは今日の社会問題か, which translates roughly to "Are Gintama's real themes the issues of modern society?"

From my basic-level Japanese, I can tell that most of it was a translation of my thoughts on the manga, including the points on world issues and how the manga can make you think if you let it.

Got a ton of Japanese visitors from that post, and I'm incredibly flattered, so thank you!

For the Japanese article click here.
For my Gintama review click here.

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2009/12/13
Borrowed: 0
Received: 19
Bought: 1
Total Cost: $2.47

A weekly event on my blog where every Wednesday I post about 5-10 books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City)




An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
release date: 21 September 2006

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He's also a washed up child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin's on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl.

Why it's on my wishlist
MATH ♥ Part of why I like this hardback cover better than the paperback one is because the title is in math symbols 8D The premise also sounds adorable, since I have no resistance to speak of against socially inept prodigies.


Will Grayson, Will Grayson
by John Green, David Levithan
release date: 6 April 2010

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

Why it's on my wishlist
Same-name coincidences are always interesting, and this is a book about guys who are NOT just going around smashing stuff up (I think)! I'm interested in how they will handle the musical aspect in text form too. The cover is rather pretty, in an abstract kind of way.




Pirate Latitudes
by Michael Crichton
release date: 24 November 2009

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses.
In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease—or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.
Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure...

Why it's on my wishlist
And here is one where the guys ARE smashing stuff up. But it's about PIRATES! Everyone loves pirates! I've got my fingers crossed there is little to no romance in this because a damsel always ruins the fun =T Plus, there's my aforementioned love of thieves ♥


Divinity Project #1:
Monster Republic
by Ben Horton
release date: 7 January 2010

An explosion in a nuclear power plant. Kids patched up with scavenged body parts and bionic implants. A growing army of superhuman soldiers programmed for destruction. 'No', whispered Cameron to the monster in the glass. And he watched it shaking its hideous head. 'That's not me. You're not me'.

Why it's on my wishlist
Hmmm...sounds like X-Men - though I think their mutations are genetic? Either way, I like reading books with an ensemble cast. This premise kind of suggests some bond-forming of the surrogate-family variety, and I'm always a sucker for those 8D




The Returners
by Gemma Malley
release date: 2 March 2010

London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father’s political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he’s having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he's being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn’t just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he's known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it...again.

Why it's on my wishlist
People who reincarnate with their memories intact? And involved with Nazi concentration camps no less? Definitely worth a look. There's themes of history repeating and commentary on ethnic cleansing too, plus definitely some form of redemption. The identity of the main character's past life is also a mystery, so I'd love to see how that puzzle gets solved.


Matthew Swift #1:
A Madness of Angels
by Kate Griffin
release date: 1 February 2010

Two years after his untimely death, Matthew Swift finds himself breathing once again, lying in bed in his London home.
Except that it's no longer his bed, or his home. And the last time this sorcerer was seen alive, an unknown assailant had gouged a hole so deep in his chest that his death was irrefutable...despite his body never being found.
He doesn't have long to mull over his resurrection, though, or the changes that have been wrought upon him. His only concern now is vengeance. Vengeance upon his monstrous killer and vengeance upon the one who brought him back.

Why it's on my wishlist
Have I ever mentioned I love revenge stories? Especially ones where the main character is the one looking for vengeance. The korean drama MaWang/The Devil (NOT the crappier japanese remake) was AMAZING in the little cunning plots and twists utilized for the goal of ultimate revenge. Add in a bit of sorcery, and the complexities of the potential schemes just doubles. Of course, I won't mind the guy just blowing everything up either XD;




Princess #1:
The Stepsister Scheme
by Jim C. Hines
release date: 6 January 2009

Cinderella – whose real name is Danielle Whiteshore (nee Danielle de Glas) – does marry Prince Armand. And if you can ignore the pigeon incident, their wedding is a dream come true.
But not long after the "happily ever after," Danielle is attacked by her stepsister Charlotte, who suddenly has all sorts of magic to call upon. And though Talia – otherwise known as Sleeping Beauty – comes to the rescue (she's a martial arts master, and all those fairy blessings make her almost unbeatable), Charlotte gets away.
That's when Danielle discovers a number of disturbing facts: Armand has been kidnapped and taken to the realm of the Fairies; Danielle is pregnant with his child; and the Queen has her own very secret service that consists of Talia and Snow (White, of course). Snow is an expert at mirror magic and heavy duty flirting.
Can the three princesses track down Armand and extract both the prince and themselves from the clutches of some of fantasyland’s most nefarious villains?

Why it's on my wishlist
Cinderella has a name (Danielle)! Sleeping Beauty/Talia is a martial arts master! Snow White is a mirror-magician! And they have to go and save Danielle's prince, all while Danielle is pregnant...not sure how that works, but this sounds rather exciting either way XD;


Princess #2:
The Mermaid's Madness
by Jim C. Hines
release date: 6 October 2009

There is an old story — you might have heard it — about a young mermaid, the daughter of a king, who saved the life of a human prince and fell in love.
So innocent was her love, so pure her devotion, that she would pay any price for the chance to be with her prince. She gave up her voice, her family, and the sea, and became human. But the prince had fallen in love with another woman.
The tales say the little mermaid sacrificed her own life so that her beloved prince could find happiness with his bride.
The tales lie.

Why it's on my wishlist
The author is using the original Little Mermaid ending for this one (where the mermaid kills herself to grant the Prince his happily ever after with the other woman), but with a twist...that is not revealed! I can guess from the title that the mermaid hasn't died though. I really want to read about a crazy mermaid 8D

That's all for this week, you can see my full wishlist at goodreads.

Snagged from simple life and reading 8Dv

01. You’re currently confused about someone’s feelings for you.
02. You have been in a serious relationship before.
03. You own an iPod of some sort.
04. You do not like your sibling’s girlfriend/boyfriend.
05. You drink too much alcohol.
06. You have been to the Olive Garden.
07. You have taken medicine of some sort this week.
08. It is really cold in your house right now.
09. You are extremely dependent on others.
10. You do not like to express your feelings in front of others.
11. You ate a lot of food today.
12. It doesn’t take much for you to cry.
13. People consider you a sappy sort of person.
14. Someone in your family is rich.
15. You have been to Disney World or Disneyland before. (hated it)
16. You hate when people constantly talk about themselves.
17. You are a good listener, but you hate complainers.
18. Someone has called you for a serious medical emergency before.
19. You have had a serious surgery.
20. Your house has a spare bedroom.
21. Your house is old.
22. You have at least one cousin under the age of three.
23. You have never held a baby before.
24. You can’t handle toddlers.
25. You have a painting in your room.
26. You have been to Canada.
27. You have been to Mexico.
28. You love cherry flavored lollipops.
29. You celebrate Easter.
30. You observe Lent.
31. You are Catholic.
32. You do not believe in God.
33. Religion is not important to you.
34. You want to have a small family one day.
35. You would rather have more sons than daughters.
36. You have more aunts than uncles.
37. You hate being too cold. (hate snow)
38. You currently are way more tan than everyone else.
39. You wear shoes in your house.
40. Your parents are clean freaks.
41. You are more messy than clean. (it's organized chaos!)
42. You are currently angry at someone.
43. Patience is so not a virtue to you.
44. Your desk is extremely clean.
45. Your bed sheets are either blue, green, black, or white.
46. When you hear “black & white” it reminds you of Katy Perry’s ‘Hot n Cold’ song.
47. You have no clue what that song is. (LOL)
48. You think rap artists are completely pathetic.
49. You are glad George Bush will be [is] out of office.
50. Politics are boring to you.
51. You take a vitamin daily.
52. You feel like you are sick often.
53. You hate throwing up. (does anybody like it...?)
54. You think it’s gross when people set food down on their desk at school with no napkin.
55. You also find it gross that people sit on top of desks.
56. You are now cringing at the thought of someone’s food where someone’s ass was.
57. You love having bubble baths.
58. You do not like chocolate at all.
59. You are allergic to nuts.
60. You have been stung by a bee before.
61. You have been to the emergency room before for something.
62. One of your parents is 50 or older.
63. You are the baby of your immediate family.
64. You hate broccoli.
65. Cooked carrots are good, though. (and I LOVE broccoli)
66. You go on tumblr too much.
67. You are really comfortable right now.
68. You like witty t-shirts.
69. You are a major fan of underground bands. (j-indie 8D)
70. You have been on an airplane before. (four 12-hour flights per year D8)
71. You are not afraid of heights.
72. You consider yourself paranoid.
73. You have had a panic attack before.
74. The thought of being old and alone bothers you.
75. You would choose the elderly over children. (love my grandpa)
76. You feel like you’re living in the wrong decade.
77. You have smoked weed before.
78. You think it’s way too cold outside right now. (HATE SNOW)
79. You love the thought of sleeping in tomorrow morning.
80. You would rather go to bed early and get up early.
81. You feel like the early bird catches the worm.
82. You are a big breakfast eater.
83. You are currently suffering from the common cold.
84. You are craving something salty.
85. You have been in a car today.
86. There is something plugged in near you. (lol laptop?)
87. You have heard of the TV show “Private Practice.”
88. You do not like medical television shows.
89. You prefer horror to comedies.
90. You adore Leo & Kate.
91. You think high-waisted pants look good.
92. You hate cheesy movies.
93. You enjoy camping out.
94. Bugs don’t bother you. (I've adapted to the cockroach, but butterflies are creepy...)
95. You do well in school without trying.
96. You are extremely jealous of someone currently.
97. You feel like you have changed a lot from 08-09.
98. You like energy drinks.
99. You like italics.
100. You know the entire script of Mean Girls.


Oh, and also, for those people who are looking forward to Jackson Pearce's Sisters Red (aka homocidal Red Riding Hood), and/or Will Grayson, Will Grayson, go on over to Jackson Pearce's youtube page and subscribe to her channel! She will be giving away an ARC of each if she reaches 1600 followers!

Just grab your current read, open to a random page, and share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
(hosted at Should Be Reading)

“"Skatouioannis?" Ted said as they got on the freight elevator.
"Greek word. Means 'Shitty John.' It's like a demon made out of crap."
from chapter 6 of Poison Sleep by T.A. Pratt

Since I haven't been able to review much lately (essays due past two weeks and back-to-back exams coming up next week), I'll just do some weekly stuff to compensate until I'm free 8D;

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. I will keep a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one on the sidebar. All books with PoC themes/authors will be listed for the "New Crayons" meme.
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren / The Printed Page; New Crayons by Color Online)



Tally for 2009/12/06
Borrowed: 0
Received: 1
Bought: 1
Total Cost: $0.00

Been slaving over essays this week, so I'm skipping Wishlist Wednesday if anyone's expecting orz

Now, huge new contests for the holidays!

Holiday Book Blowout @ Dark Faerie Tales!
Stuff I want:
# The Maze Runner
# Deadtown
# My Soul to Save
# Bleeding Violet
# Boneshaker
# The Tear Collector
There's a lot more to choose from at the contest page! Four winners in all!

300 Follower Contest @ Parajunkee Views!
Stuff I want:
# Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
# Fire by Kristin Cashore
# The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
# The Maze Runner by James Dashner
# Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
# Sins of the Flesh by Cardidad Pineiro
# Graceling by Kristin Cashore
There's a lot more to choose from at the contest page! Four winners so far!