My thoughts on "TWEAK" by Nic Sheff

(from Goodreads)

"I smoked pot every day. I was seventeen and had been accepted at prestigious universities across the country and I figured a little partying was due me. I'd worked hard those last three and a half years. Sure I'd had some problems smoking weed and drinking too much when I was younger, but that was all behind me. I was smart. I was on the swim team. My writing had been published in Newsweek." Author Nic Sheff paid a staggering price for this swagger. Under the pull of alcohol, cocaine, Ecstasy, hallucinogenic mushrooms, crystal meth, and heroin, his life collapsed, plunging him into an abyss where swim medals and writing credentials dissolved into the next great fix. This stark account of his addiction and often-painful recovery possesses a force missing from most anti-drug diatribes

MY THOUGHTS

 

This book was very intense, raw, gritty. If you are not used to reading that sort of stuff or if you are a young teen or what have you I would suggest skipping this book right now.

Nic Sheff tells us all about his life on drugs over a less then 2 year period. I believe it was between like 20-22....

Nic does not sugarcoat anything and the words he uses can be profane. There is a lot of sex (or f*cking, as he puts it at times), a lot of drugs (and not the pot and acid type, but the needle type), a lot of lying and stealing. There are a lot of feelings in this book.

Nic is human and he does feel and we learn that throughout this book. He doesn't do drugs to have fun, although that is how it started, but that is not why he continues to do them.

This book was very scary to me. I have never been around hard drugs like the kind that Nic does in this book, so to hear first hand accounts about the stuff was really disturbing for me.

Nic did want to get clean and he tried a few times throughout this 2yr period, but it never lasted. One of the things that I knew and what Nic has attested to also is that YOU have to want to get clean for YOURSELF, not for others. That is the only way that it will work. Also, the people that you hang around with will be a big difference in your recovery. But most importantly, don't think that you can get clean on your own, because you can't.

There were so many parts in this book that I would summarize to my son, who is 15, to try and instill even more how horrifying drugs are. I wanted him to hear from someone who actually has been through it.

Nic has come out with another book, We all fall down: Living with addiction, that was released April 5, 2011. This book is about " eye-opening stays at rehab centers, devastating relapses, and hard-won realizations about what it means to be a young person living with addiction." (goodreads)

His father, David Sheff, has also written a book, Beautiful Boy, about his sons addiction and how it affected everyone.

If these are your types of books I definitely recommend picking this up.

My thoughts on "VARIANT" by Robison Wells

(from Goodreads)

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

MY THOUGHTS

After reading the last few books that I have, that were 3*...books that were good but where I felt something was lacking or where something was lacking, it was a relief to read this book.

This book had everything for me. I loved this book! And I am so excited that there is going to be a book 2....I cannot express enough how surprised I was with this book. I was expecting another 3*, even when I was pulled in from the beginning, because with the last few books I was pulled in from the very beginning only to be disappointed the closer it came to the end. Not so with this one. I was intrigued with it from the very beginning and my curiosity and interest in the book just kept growing with each turn of the page.

I thought the whole school being run without adults was interesting and I was curious to know how it would all work out. How is there harmony in this school and how does everything not turn out like "The Lord of the Flies"...

There are gangs or cliques in the book, fighting, trouble-makers, goody two-shoes, back stabbers, and etc. also. But even with all of that going on all the kids have come to a truce and have pretty much learned how to live with each other, despite all their differences.

That is, until Benson Fisher, arrives. Benson suspects that things are amiss from the first day that he is there and when he starts to learn things, he is determined to get out of that school. The only problem, once you are there, there is no leaving.

But Benson refuses to believe this and he creates awhole lot of havoc for himself and everyone else. But if he didn't the story would have never played out like it did and Benson would never have found out the things that he did.

Robison did such a great job on this book that I cannot find anything that I didn't like about it. I cannot wait until book 2 comes out!!

Take Care-

My thoughts on 'BRUISER' by Neal Schustermann

(from Goodreads)

"There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they're happening to me."
When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t surprised. But then strange things begin to occur. Tennyson and Brontë’s scrapes heal unnaturally fast, and cuts disappear before their eyes. What at first seems like their good fortune turns out to be more than they bargained for…much more.


Award-winning author Neal Shusterman has crafted a chilling and unforgettable novel about the power of unconditional friendship, the complex gear workings of a family, and the sacrifices we endure for the people we love

MY THOUGHTS

When I first started this book I thought it was about something completely different then what it was about. I purchased this earlier in the year and I either never read what it was about and just assumed or I completely forgot. Anyway, I thought the book was about a bully, and I guess it is in a way, but it is mostly the complete opposite.

The story is about Brewster, who is an outcast at school, who has all sorts of rumors about him flying around. It is also about a girl named Bronte, who befriends him and eventually starts dating him. And finally, it is about Brontes brother, Tennyson, who in the beginning is not at all happy about this development and is not afraid to voice his displeasure.

But what ends up happening is not what you would expect.

This book was very well written and it was another book that flowed for me. I finished this book in one night because of how smooth the story was and how engaging the characters were.

This is a sad, but powerful story. It is about acceptance, friendship, demons (the ones inside us) and it is about some strange stuff. This book also teaches us not to judge people by just what we see on the outside or the rumors that we hear. You truly need to get to know someone before you can make any sort of judgement about them.

I really felt for Brewster. He was definitely not what everyone thought him to be, but so much more. Brewster was kind, sensitive and giving.

If you haven't read this book, I suggest that you pick it up,

Take Care-



My thoughts on "Scored" by Lauren McLaughlin

Scored by Lauren McLaughlin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



(from Goodreads)

Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed. All kids given a "score" that determines their future potential. This score has the ability to get kids into colleges, grant scholarships, or destroy all hope for the above. Scored's reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend's score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? Friendship, romance, loyalty, family, human connection and human value: all are questioned in this fresh and compelling dystopian novel set in the scarily foreseeable future.


I have mixed feelings about this book and I wish there were half stars because I would have given this book 3.5 stars.

I read this book in one night which says something...first I have to say that this book flowed really well and so it was easy to keep reading w/out taking breaks (even though the book was just over 200pg)...

The story is a dystopian where there are cameras everywhere that record all teenagers. That's right, teenagers. The whole idea behind this story is that in this world you have to have a high enough score in order for any university/college in the state will be paid for you (a scholarship from ScoreCorp who owns all the cameras, etc and runs this whole 'program'). And with only a handful of people that can actually afford to pay for their kids to go to college this is very important.

There are 5 elements that you are scored on and those can greatly affect your score. One of the things that will affect your score is the people you hang out with. If you hang out with someone that is scored lower then you (the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc all stick together) then your score will drop. In order to get a scholarship you need to be scored in the upper 90s...and that isn't all...to get a job at all (if you can't afford to go to college) you need to score over a certain number. So these scores are very important.

The main character, Imani, has a score in the 90s and believes strongly in Score Corp, although not everyone does. Imanis score drops drastically through something that was no fault of her own, and she is desperate to get her score back up. Imani is already a senior and has limited time to do this. Because of her desperation she agrees to work on a her American History's final paper with a non-scored, Diego (which is the worst thing you can do)-but she has another agenda that doesn't turn out the way she expected. Imani learns some things she didn't know and is left to decide if she still believes in Score Corp. like she did before or not...

This story was very interesting and it kept me reading til almost 4am. The characters were great, but the idea of the book is what I liked the best. Cameras that track everything teenagers do. Even on the streets. Their body language, facial expressions and interprets all of that.

The whole idea of this book to me was sort of scary. Not because of the whole 'big brother' thing, but because of the things that affect your score. The people you hang out with?? Wow...You learn that you are the only one you need to worry about and no one else. You can't form any close relationships and don't even think about dating...

I really liked how the author talked about our world now (the past in the book) and made you see things differently and what could happen or already did happen.

The things I wasn't too happy about with this book is the fact that the a big chunk of the book is spent with Imani and Diego, working on this paper, and discovering things along the way, but then in the end it is was about something else. I felt as if the ending was not developed enough and the whole paper thing didn't properly end. I felt like the basis for the story was being built, and it was great, but the climax didn't really happen. The ending fell flat to me.

I hope that makes some sort of sense.

Anyway, the story was a good read and if there is another book then maybe some of my misgivings on this book will be cleared up.





View all my reviews

Just couldn't get into it..."Horns" by Joe Hill

(from Goodreads)

Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with a pair of horns growing from his temples.

At first, Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who had been raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. A mental breakdown would have been the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the horns, which were all too real.

Once, the righteous Ig had enjoyed the life of the blessed. But Merrin's death damned all that. The only suspect in the crime, Ig was never charged or tried. And he was never cleared. Nothing Ig can do or say matters. Everyone it seems, including God, has abandoned him. Everyone that is, but the devil inside. . . .

Now Ig is possessed of a terrible new power—a macabre talent he intends to use to find the monster who killed Merrin and destroyed his life. It's time for a little revenge . . . it's time the devil had his due . . .

MY THOUGHTS

I first heard about "Horns" by Joe Hill last year when I was watching one of Critic Nicks videos on You Tube. He was saying how he really liked the book and then after that I kept hearing more about it. I never picked it up though because honestly, I forgot about it.

Then last week when I was at the library I seen it and thought I would grab it and give it a try. "Horns" is an adult fiction book and I haven't read an adult fiction book in some time so I was a little apprehensive about starting it.

Well, the first chapter pulled me right in, as did the next few, and despite the amount of pages (368-which normally isn't too bad in YA books because the books tend to me smaller and the words bigger) and the small words in this book, it didn't bother me because the story was interesting, to say the least.

From what I read, the main character, Ig, wakes up one morning after a drunken night to discover that he has horns growing from his head. Of course he freaks, and then he thinks that he must be hallucinating. But as he encounters people through out the day weird stuff happens. This is when Ig starts to think that maybe he isn't hallucinating after all.

But when I get to page 57, a new section begins. This new section starts when Ig is only 15, and basically follows him around in his daily life. Well, maybe not daily exactly, but to me it was so boring-it reminded of the way "Stand by me" the movie played out. So with all these words on this big pages I just couldn't stay focused anymore. Next thing I know, this book turns into a daunting task and I just can't do that. So I quit, yes, I quit the book at page 78. Yes, I know I should've given it more then that, but there are just too many books out there to be read, and I just wasn't feeling it anymore.

Please don't go by what I say though only. This book has had so many rave reviews and is being turned into a movie, but if there is not action, intrigue, suspense then the book will lose my attention.

If this book sounded any bit interesting to you I hope that you still check it out.

Take Care-

Beginning a new book...

First I want to say "HAPPY THANKSGIVING!" to everyone....I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving....and if you are doing the whole Black Friday thing, please be safe...and remember that material things are not worth the fight...

With that being said, I was curious how everyone feels when they begin a new book. I know that I get all excited! I sometimes gets goosebumps, but I always get those butterflies in my stomach and I feel like Im floating...if that makes any sort of sense. I just can't wait to dive into a new story, a new adventure, a new mystery.

Finishing a book is sad, but then I think of the next book and I can't wait to curl up and just jump into it.

I wanted to ask this question, because when I was driving home today I thought about how I was almost done with "Through her eyes" by Jennifer Archer and then I thought about the other books waiting for me at home and I got all excited. Am I the only one that gets this way?

Take Care-

My thoughts on "The Julian Game" by Adele Griffin

(from Goodreads)

All  new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity so she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. It's a fun and dangerous thrill at first, but Raye hadn't counted on falling for Julian herself-and igniting Ella's rage.

As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge, creating an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she's helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

Adele Griffin's riveting novel explores the issues of generation Facebook: the desire to be someone else, real versus online friends, and the pitfalls and fallouts of posting your personal life online for all the world to judge.

MY THOUGHTS

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I am sorry for the low rating, but this book just didn't follow through for me on what it promised.
The whole Facebook thing didn't last very long and the characters were just meh....Julian feel flat to me w/ no emotions. And the bullying that went on in here was middle school stuff (well, maybe not nowadays)...but it was just basically name calling.

I felt as if there was no depth to this story. There was very little drama and everthing happened so quickly. There was no time spent to build a climax.

I felt if the author spent more time developing her characters and some back story and then drew some things out it would have been awhole lot better.

I am sorry, but these are just my thoughts on the book.



View all my reviews

I might have a partner...

So, my daughter is 12 now....13 next summer and she is reading almost the same stuff as me. Right now, in fact, she is reading the "House of Night" series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. She is flying right through them. She just started book 3 a bit ago and she only just started the series on Friday, I believe.

When Mia reads, she reads. She is very commited to the book she is reading. And if it is a series she has to have the next book, NOW....Mia is either really into a book or she's not...and if she's not then she doesn't finish the book. That is just how she is. She has the same mentality as I do when it comes to that. There are too many good books out there to waste your time on one that you don't like or can't get into.

Anyway, I was talking to her and mentioned that maybe she should do some reviews on the books she reads since those books my readers would be interested in. I think it would be nice to hear the thoughts of a pre-teen too.

She said she would think about it. She started to do some reviews on my YT channel last year and also on here when I first started it, but she didn't stay interested.

Well, that is it for now. Hopefully Mia will be joining me...

Take Care

My thoughts on "Slice of Cherry" by Dia Reeves

(from Goodreads)

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Wow! What can I say about this book? Well, let me start off by saying that when I first heard of this author and her first book, Bleeding Violet, which I still have to read, I heard that her books were a bit "weird", "different", "scary" for lack of a better word...and I was excited!

MY THOUGHTS

I love to read true crime books because I am always curious by what makes people tick and why people do what they do and although a lot of those books don't give me the answer exactly, they still give me a look into the killers mind.

OK, so before I completely go off track-hearing Dia Reeves books described to me I thought they would be exactly what I like reading, but this time in fiction form.

Well, I was in for a surprise. At least with, "Slice of Cherry", (I haven't read Bleeding Violet yet).

This story started off strong. Drew me in immediately. The writing was really well done and I liked the characters. I really enjoyed the banter between the two sisters, Fancy and Kit.

But I have to say, that more then one time, my stomach rolled. I had to stop reading the book and try and think about something else. The images were very disturbing to me. I was shocked by how I felt because I can read most true crime and be OK, and this was only fiction.

I don't know if it was because it was told in such detail (all I can say is the hog part really got to me) and most of the killings were more along the lines of torture. Something I truly cannot handle...obviously if this was bothering me, the author did a great job writing it.

The story is about two sisters, Fancy and Kit, whose father is in prison for killing abunch of people. And the sisters are following in his footsteps.

At first the sisters are just killing to kill because they enjoy it, but as the story goes on, they start to actually try and help others. And what can their way of helping actually be? I thought this was a nice twist on things.

Admist all the killing and morbid thoughts of the two sisters, there is really something else to see. The sisters are so used to be together for everything, but they are growing up and starting to feel different things.

Fancy doesn't like this at all, at first, and becumes angry and tries to jeopardize Kits happiness, but as time goes on will she learn to accept things and maybe find some happiness of her own?

This book isn't all about people being murdered. There are more elements to this book. This book at first seems like it is just your typical book, albeight with two murderous sisters. But the town they live in is a little different then any town around here. Their town is actually a little different then any town around them also. You have some freaky things that happen in this town. Monsters that lurk around, corpses that rise from the dead and doors to other places that have to be discovered, and the places you end up may not be the places you want to go.

The sisters both have special things that they can do and the whole story is written as if you were in the Twilights Zone.

If you are looking for something differenet, something disturbing, something creepy, then this is the book you want to read. Not for the faint of heart though.

I can't believe I forgot...!

OK, so I was at the library yesterday to return a ton of books and of course I had to browse while I was there. So I was looking through the "Something new" section and I seen Ellen Hopkins audio of "Burned"....I thought that I had read it but couldn't remember, so I flipped it over and read the back. Nope, didn't sound familiar...but still, I swore that I read it...

So when I got home later I went to goodreads and looked it up, because if I read it I would have marked it as read on there and possibly wrote a review. And wouldn't you know it...I sure did read it! Back in August of 2010...I swear I still couldn't remember for the life of me what the story is about.

So I read my review and was even more shocked! I love Ellen Hopkins, but apparently I didn't care for this book....look what I wrote...

I finished this book very upset....mad....I actually yelled and threw the book. This book is not as intense as other of Ellen's books-actually it was very mild I thought. It took awhile for me to get into it but when I did I feel in love with Pattyn and Ethan. Their love is love that the young experience. The innocent and sweet love. Then the end came and it came really fast. I did not like the ending at all! I couldn't believe after all of that it turned out like that. And then the very ended j...moreI finished this book very upset....mad....I actually yelled and threw the book. This book is not as intense as other of Ellen's books-actually it was very mild I thought. It took awhile for me to get into it but when I did I feel in love with Pattyn and Ethan. Their love is love that the young experience. The innocent and sweet love. Then the end came and it came really fast. I did not like the ending at all! I couldn't believe after all of that it turned out like that. And then the very ended just ended...I was expecting more....ugh...frustrated.... Do you ever forget reading a certain book or books? And when you read the blurb of the book or even your OWN review do you still sometimes cannot remember reading it? I am so frustrated that I can't REMEMBER!! Ugh!! Just want to know if I am the only one like this out there.... Take Care!

My thoughts on "Wildefire" by Karsten Knight

(from Goodreads)

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.


MY THOUGHTS

So, what did I think of this book?? Well, I have to say that it definetly kept me reading, kept my attention, which is very important for me because I have a short attention span...and if I am not into the story within the first 50pgs or so then I won't be into it at all. I will put the book down and grab the next one to read.

The main character is Ashline and the first part of the story is her life back in New York. It is basically one whole scene and then the story jumps ahead 8mo.

Here we find Ashline at a prep school across the country, trying to get away from what happened back home. At Blackwood Academy, Ashline hopes to be able to put her past behind her and start over. Unfortunately, that is not to happen. What does happen though is a lot of excitement and discoveries.

Ashline, along with 5 other kids at Blackwood Academy find out that they are more then they think...that they have more to offer then what they think....and that there is a lot of trouble coming their way.

In the midst of all of that, Ashline has to deal with her runaway sister, Eve, who she thought she left behind in New York. Eve keeps popping up in this story at all sorts of places. Places and times that you wouldn't expect. Causing trouble as she always does. All Eve wants is for Ashline to come with her and then the trouble will stop...but will Ashline give in?

I felt as if this story was just a preface for what, hopefully, is to come. Don't get me wrong...this story was very good. It has action, intrigue, suspense and paranormal elements, but I felt as if there was more then what this book gave us. Unfortunately, some of the characters seem to have other plans and I am not sure if I like that or not.

The characters were very likeable and I especially enjoyed Ashlines sarcasm. I thought all of the characters had their own personal qualities that fit them perfectly. There was no-one I wish was written differently. Everyone fit in the story as they should.

I do hope there is another book because I can see this story turning into something great.

(I originally gave this book 3 stars because I felt that something was missing, but now that I have figured out that this is just the beginning of something (or so I hope) I decided to change the rating to 4 stars)...

*Just read that there are two more books due out....Book two in 2012, and book three in 2013)

Can you re-read that?

So, I started reading Compulsion today..

 

and I got half way through the first chapter when I thought that this book sounded really familiar....but I kept reading because I really couldn't remember reading this book (the title wasn't familiar to me). But by the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I knew it was just sounding way too familiar and I had to put it aside so I could check Goodreads.com and check to see if I had, in fact, read it before. Sure enough....at the end of June of this year (but of course, since it wasn't published until this year) I had indeed read this book. So, I had to put it aside and start another book.

I don't know about any of you, but I CANNOT re-read a book. Unless it is non-fiction, that is. But fiction books I just cannot re-read. I always remember something and it just isn't new and exciting for me and I feel as if I am wasting time when I could be using that time to read a book that I haven't read yet. There are just too many great books out there to be read.

I am the same way with movies. I cannot re-watch movies, except for musicals. Unless of course someone else (my family) puts it on. Otherwise, I would never chose to watch a movie that I had already watched. I already know what is going to happen, and I already have a short attention span the way it is.

So, is there anyone else out there like me? Or am I one of the few who doesn't/can't re-read or re-watch stuff?

Take Care!

My thoughts on "Break" by Hannah Moskowitz

(from Goodreads)

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah’s only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders.
When Jonah's self-destructive spiral accelerates and he hits rock bottom, will he find true strength or surrender to his breaking point?

MY THOUGHTS

This was a very good book. Well written, with a dark subject matter and great characters. I was going to say, like I did in my review on Youtube, that I was also impressed that it was written when the author was only 16....but after reading her blog, I don't think I will emphasize that. LOL! Anyway, the story follows Jonah, who is 17 and who has a messed up family life. His 16yo brother, Jesse has extreme food allergies, so you have to be extremely careful around him and Jonah also has ...moreThis was a very good book. Well written, with a dark subject matter and great characters. I was going to say, like I did in my review on Youtube, that I was also impressed that it was written when the author was only 16....but after reading her blog, I don't think I will emphasize that. LOL! Anyway, the story follows Jonah, who is 17 and who has a messed up family life. His 16yo brother, Jesse has extreme food allergies, so you have to be extremely careful around him and Jonah also has an 8mo old little brother who still cries non-stop. The doctors say colic, but it is really causing some stress, for lack of a better word, in the home. Jonah also has a best friend, Naomi and a 'non-girlfriend', Charlotte. So his life is pretty filled up. And all of this is causing a lot of stress for Jonah. Especially because he thinks that he has to take care of everyone and especially because he thinks he is doing an awful job of taking care of everyone. His brother, Jesse, is constantly having to go to the hospital because of severe reactions to something in the home, and his younger brother still won't stop crying after 8mo....but non of this is Johans responsibility. Unfortunately he doesn't see it that way. So Jonah takes it upon his self to find other ways to make his family better. And the way he is trying now is to break every bone in his body. Sounds crazy, right? Well, to us it is...but to Jonah, it makes perfect sense. When you break a bone it heals stronger than what it was before. And according to Confucius, who Jonah is completely into, the family cannot be divided up into individuals. The family is one unit. So, if Jonah breaks his bones and they heal and become stronger then they were, then his family will be stronger too. The book opens with him doing a crazy stunt on his skateboard to cause some broken bones. As the story progresses and he ends up with more broken bones, that he tries but fails to hide from others, Jonahs life goes down a path he never expected. Now it is time for him to face up to what he is actually doing and come to terms with some things in his life. Unfortunately his life gets a lot worse before any of that happens. I hightly recommend this book. Take Care!



My thoughts on "Family Storms" by VC Andrews

(from Goodreads)

In the eye of the storm . . .
Living on the streets with her destitute mother, selling knickknacks and trinkets just to survive, Sasha Porter dreams of someday having a normal life, with a real house and family. But she never dreamed a devastating tragedy would bring her those very things: on a stormy night by a rainspattered highway, a speeding car veers out of control, striking and killing her mother and badly injuring Sasha.

. . . is anywhere truly safe?

In the hospital, Sasha is whisked off to a fancy private suite at the request of wealthy Mrs. Jordan March, a complete stranger who keeps watch by Sasha’s bedside and insists she come live at her family’s sprawling, luxurious mansion. Sasha soon learns Mrs. March never recovered from the loss of her daughter Alena, and with nowhere else to go, Sasha agrees to use Alena’s room, sleep in her bed, and wear her clothes. But someone will make sure that Sasha never takes Alena’s place: a jealous sister dead set on making Sasha’s life a living hell.

MY THOUGHTS:

** spoiler alert ** Let me start off by saying that this review will contain spoilers, so if you haven't read this book stop reading now.

With that being said, if you have read any of VC Andrews earlier books (that she herself actually wrote) you will understand my review better. But, if you haven't read any of her earlier books, let me just tell you that her books usually have twists, turns, deceit and betrayal in them. And you usually come across one or more of them early on in the book.


"...moreLet me start off by saying that this review will contain spoilers, so if you haven't read this book stop reading now.

With that being said, if you have read any of VC Andrews earlier books (that she herself actually wrote) you will understand my review better. But, if you haven't read any of her earlier books, let me just tell you that her books usually have twists, turns, deceit and betrayal in them. And you usually come across one or more of them early on in the book.


"Family Storms" was nothing like that. I was greatly disappointed. Now, if you are wondering why I gave the story 3 stars if I was so disappointed, it was because I still thought the writing wasn't too bad. The writing is what kept me reading when I wanted to stop so many times. There were numerous times that I thought for sure something deceitful was about to happen, but I was so wrong.

This story was about a girl, Keira, who hits a homeless mother and daughter with her car one rainy night. The mother ends up dying and the girl, Sasha, ends up with a broken femur. While Sasha is in the hospital being treated, Keira's mom, Jordan or Mrs. March, shows up telling Sasha who she is and offering her her home to come and stay while she is recuperating.

Sasha agrees and soon finds out that the Marchs are very wealthy and that they had, not to long ago, lost their younger daugher, Alena, to an illness.

When Sasha is given Alenas room to stay in (despite all the empty guest rooms the house has) I thought for sure I knew what was coming and where the story was going. And then when Mrs. March kept referring to Alena and comparing Sasha and Alena, I knew for sure what was going to happen. But, no, I was wrong. What a disappointment. That is one of the things that kept me reading though. I thought for sure that, at least, by the end of the book, what I had been thinking will actually happen. But, no....the story took a different direction.

Sasha soon meets Keira and instead of Keira feeling remorse for what she had done, she feels resentment towards Sasha. And she acts like a total bitch to her; especially after she sees how her mother is doting on her and offering her everything of Alenas and then some.

Mrs. March, in turn, does nothing but put down her daughter, Keira, and call her on all of her faults and wrong doings.

This all goes on through about the first 1/3 of the book. And as I said before, I am certain, that by this time something crazy is gonna happen.

But again, no. Actually what does happen makes no sort of sense to me. Keira befriends Sasha and gets Sasha to believe that she is sorry for everything and that she wants to take her under her wing, so to speak.

That was OK, but not when Keira gets Sasha to wear all these skimpy clothes, that Sasha is even suspect about. They still have their tags on them and Keira doesn't wear stuff like them so why would Sasha believe Keira when Keira says that they are her clothes and she is lending them to her?? C'mon, Sasha is smarting then that. And you know it too.

Then when Keira tells her about the VA Club??? What it meant and the initiation, the tattoo?? How dumb is that! And Sasha goes along with it so easily despite the doubts running through her head....That was another thing that upset me with the book.

And the clincher for me was when Keira came home from the party on the ship saying how miserble it was and her parents believed her story just like that?? After Mrs. March did nothing but point out how horrible her own daughter was and even telling Sasha to watch herself with her....she is going to just believe that story that easily??

The tattoo, the club, Keiras friends just going along with the whole thing??

And then when KeiraKeira wouldn't make it and Sasha really would end up taking the place of Alena. But that didn't happen either.

I can't express enough how upset I am with this story.

It is 3 in the morning and I couldn't go to sleep until I wrote this review.

Like I said at the beginning, if you have ever read one of VC Andrews earlier books you should understand exactly where I am coming from. If you haven't, you should read one because they are great!

I was just over on goodreads reading some reviews on this book and I was surprised at home many people liked this book and how many said it was in the original VC Andrews style...after reading those I thought more about the book and tried to see it as they were, but I just couldn't. Either way, please, if you haven't read this book, yet still chose to read my review and are still reading-go ahead and read it and decide for yourself. Obviously people have differing opinions and you may end up liking the story.

Take Care!

My thoughts on "Sara's Face" by Melvin Burgess

All I can say is that I enjoyed this book. It is very hard for me to explain. I did a video review on YT and that was all over the place.

 I can say that it reminds of me of Bram Stokers "Dracula" in how it was written and the setting (sort of)....Sara goes to stay with a rock star named Johnathan, who has had numerous surgeries done on his face, just because, and because of all of them he has had done, his face literally collapses! He ends up wearing masks all the time to cover the gruesomeness of this.


Johnathan meets Sara at the hospital when she is there after an accident where an iron burned the whole side of her face. He automatically feels a connection with her and offers her to come stay with him in his huge house and to pay for her surgery (plastic surgery). She agrees and while at his house and awaiting the surgery (which is a few months down the road), she notices strange stuff going on, although she seems to be the only one that notices anything. She is very curious and afraid at the same time to find out what it is that is going on. This all leads us to discover quite a few things.


This story to me wasn't fast paced at all and there where no "aha" moments or intense points, but there were some disturbing points and there were some ghosts that make an appearance...it still was a good book. The end was disturbing especially....Especially after you realize what exactly is going on....

Sorry this wasn't the best...you just need to read the book to see what I was trying to say...

Take Care!

V.C. Andrews

I was at the library today because my daughter has asthma and allergies, and now she has a cold and it has complicated the other two...anyway, we wanted to get her out of the house and away from the dander from the animals. Usually they do not bother her, but the cold just has made things worse for the time.

We went to the library because I was broke and she had an eye apt. anyway and it was in the area. While at the library I was looking at the new release books in both YA and adult, and I found a new VC Andrews book, called Family Storms.

I have loved VC Andrews since I was a teen and my older sister used to read her. All starting with "Flowers in the Attic"...

I have read every single book all the way up to the Gemini Series. Then I forgot about her books and started to read other stuff.

Last year I started collecting her books and have acquired quite a collection. I am still a few series short of having everything, but it is still pretty impressive, I think.

When I seen the new book today I got excited and checked it out. I cannot wait to read this book! Although these books are not actually written by VC Andrews, as she passed away December 19, 1986.

 "Her novels were so successful that, after her death, her estate hired a ghost writer, Andrew Neiderman, to write more stories to be published under her name." (Wickipedia)

So even though someone continued writting her stories it isn't necesarily her writting and you can tell when you read the books. I still enjoy them though (although not as much as when she was actually writting them). I know there are people out there who will not read any of the books that were not written by her and that is too bad, because they are still good books.

I will have to go back and read the series that I haven't read yet. And hopefully one day get caught up....

Take Care!

What I am making for my challenges....

So since I have been crafting a lot this past year I thought it would be fun to make a book of sorts, to keep track of the books that I am reading for the challenges that I joined for 2012.

I am making one for my challenges and then I was thinking of making one for my TBR/wishlist books.

Here are some pictures of what I have done so far...

I still plan on embellishing the pages some and I am adding lined paper in between these pages to write. These are the dividers for the challenges. The ones with the months on them are for the DAC. I will add more pictures when I am done with it entirely.

Take Care!

2012 Reading challenges

So, once again, I have decided to participate in some reading challenges. This time for the year 2012...but of course....

The challenges I decided to take part in our the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren, Outdo Yourself hosted by Book Vixen , 2012 YA reading challenge hosted by Bumps in the Road and the 2012 Support your local library challenge hosted by the Eclectic Bookshelf. You can find a whole list of challenges over here....and there are a lot...

Have you joined any challenges yet for the new year? Did you join any for this year (2011)? If so, what ones did you join and how are you doing on them? I personally joined the 2011 Debut Author Challenge (DAC), the Chick-lit challenge and I believe one or two more, but I failed miserably!! And that is NOT an understatement.....I really hope that I can follow through with the challenges for this coming year and not quit....

You know what I think I may need...? A sponsor....yes, you heard me....lol....I think if I had a sponsor, or maybe a sponsor isn't the word, I am looking for. But if I had someone that could/would encourage me to keep reading and also, importantly, keep doing reviews and linking them up, I would keep at it if I hit any rough patches. I am sure you all know what I mean....those reading funks, where you just can't get into reading. And I think I know the person that I am going to ask to help me do this.... : D

So those are the challenges I am joining. I hope you guys find some good ones and have fun with this new year!

Take Care!

My thoughts on "The Karma Club" by Jessica Brody

"The Karma Club" by Jessica Brody

(from Goodreads)

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. Do good things and you'll be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what you deserve.

But when Maddy’s boyfriend cheats on her, nothing bad comes his way. That’s why Maddy starts the Karma Club, to clean up the messes that the universe has left behind. Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe.

It turns out Karma often has plans of its own.

MY THOUGHTS

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I usually don't read girly books because I need more drama and deeper subject matter then what they offer, but I was at the library and thought, "why not?"...

First, let me say that this book was not fluffy, kissy, cheesy, and anything like that. It wasn't even all about lovey-dovey stuff which I was so relieved about...lol....

Instead this book was about a group of girls that were wronged by their (ex)boyfriends and are out for revenge.

The characters were likeable and I could relate to them. I am sure everyone could relate them at least one at one time in their lives...if not, more...being hurt and then getting angry about it. Trying to right wrongs....wondering why some ppl can get away with doing all kinds of things that are just not "right", but others seem to have to pay the "price" one way or another.

The girls were so frustrated about this that they decided to take matters into their own hands. And what they did, just made matters worse. Can we say "Karma?"....

Hence, the title: "The Karma Club"...but is it what you think?        

When is enough, enough??

When is enough, enough? I am so bad when it comes to something I am interested in because I go crazy on accumulating as much of whatever that something is...if there is something to accumulate....

11yrs ago when my daughter was just 1 I was in a Barbie faze. I wanted to collect Barbie for her. I imagined her room being decorated with all of these Barbies still in there boxes looking so beautiful sitting on her shelves. I started with the collectible Barbies, but then I moved over into the pink box Barbies...the ones that parents buy at Toys R Us or Target, etc for their kids to actually play with....when that wasn't enough, I bought the cars and the playsets....and the clothes....I kept them all in their packaging and never opened them....That is, until she turned 3 and then I started opening the pink box ones and the playsets, furniture, cars, etc. so I could set up scences on her bookshelves. I dressed the dolls and rearranged their furniture weekly. Then when she turned 4 she was really into Barbie and I just couldn't say no to her anymore when she would ask to play with them. C'mon, it wasn't fair to look at them all the time but not be able to play with them, so I broke down and said "sure"....and that "sure" turned into me opening some of the collectibles too!!

Then about 2 years after that, we got bored with them and I felt as if they were taking up too much space in the house, so what did I do?? You guessed it...I got rid of EVERYTHING! All that money I spent (well, my husband spent) on all of those dolls, furniture, clothes, etc....all gone...like it was nothing.

That is one thing about me, and my husband and kids have just grown used to it-I change my mind a lot and when I do I usually can't be persuaded to change it back. I get bored rather easily also.

So, when my daughter was about 7 I started scrapbooking and I invested so much into the craft and was so obsessed with it for a good 2 yrs solid...until one day, I got bored...and guess what?? Yep, I got rid of most of my stuff cuz it was taking up space.

When she was 10 I started really collecting books. It started off with adult fiction books, such as, James Patterson, Tammi Hoag, Dean Koontz, Robin Cook, Tess Garritson, etc...they were easy to find (thrift stores, library booksales) and besides I loved them (the authors and the books-the smell, the feel)...then last year, I discovered the book community on You Tube and thus I discovered YA or young adult books and I went wild...I became so obsessed with buying all the books that I could. All my extra money and then some went into buying YA books....For at least 6mo I bought and bought and bought...I also read non-stop. But my buying far surpassed how much I was or could read. Then, guess what?? Yes, again....I got sidetracked. Not necessarily bored, as I have always loved to read and never actually get bored from it, just other things got in the way...and this time I was not working because of the 2 car accidents I was in and crafting came back into my life. I have been really into card making and so since I wasn't and still am not working I decided I could sell abunch of my books to earn some extra money....it wasn't a big deal. I either already read the books, or I just wasn't interested in them anymore (certain titles). Besides, I could always get books from the library and if I was interested in reading a certain book again I would just borrow it from there.

This all leads me to the present. I am now back into reading quite often, but most of my books are gone and I still am not working so have no money to buy any more. So, I go to the library...the books there are free and you get them for 2 weeks and can renew them for another 2 weeks as long as nobody is waiting on them.....you can also take up to 50 at a time...50 AT A TIME!! Now can I read that many books in 2 weeks or even 4 weeks if I renew them...NO!! But I can't seem to stop myself from bringing more and more books home....and that is what leads me to the question...

When is enough, enough??

Sorry to have failed you

Yes, this is my 3rd post for today...I guess I have alot to say...which is another thing...with this new format to my blog I may have multiple posts in a day or none at all....there is no rhyme or reason to this...so anyway....

I am sorry to say that the book I was currently reading: "Too many books, too little time" by Sara Nelson is no more. I made it to pg 49 and just couldn't continue. OK, I could have, but I didn't want to. Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't bad. I enjoyed the writing and I love reading certain non-fiction books, but Sara was talking about and comparing a lot of stuff to obviously, the books she has read, which would be books that I am in no way interested in, so I just lost interest in the whole book itself.

I know there is a debate of sorts going around about people finishing a book that they have started. Should you or shouldn't you? Does it matter? What does it say about you? And I understand and respect the people that finish a book "no matter what"...but to be honest, I have to say that there are just way too many books out there for me to spend time reading something that just isn't doing it for me. I will give it a chance, don't get me wrong, but after 50 or so pages if I am just not getting into it then I am just not getting into it and it is nobodys fault. So I move on....

And moving on I am....to...."Almost Home" by Jessica Blank.

Take Care-

Too many books, too little time

Well, I am reading a book by Sara Nelson titled: Too many books, too little time: A Year of Passionate Reading. I just started this book so I don't have a lot to say about it except that I am excited to read it. Just like the other book that I have; Bib/li/o-ho-lism by Tom Raabe...I like to read about other people and their obsessions. Especially when their obsessions are the same as mine.

I also wanted to say that my blog isn't going to follow the format that it did when I first started it because I felt constrained back then. I felt like since I was doing a book blog I had to conform to some upspoken rule or set of rules. That all book blogs had to have similarities and had to all include certain information...but I don't want to do that. This is my blog, this is supposed to express me and what I like to read and it is here to let others know what I thought or what I think about book related stuff....OK, maybe not EVERYTHING will be book related, but 99% will be. And I don't want to follow any form, I don't want to post certain things on certain days because that is not me. I change my mind too often and I get bored and I look for new things. I do not want to be stuck in something that I may not happy with next week or even next month.

So there you have it....what I am reading now and what I have planned for this blog, or so-called blog.

Either way, take care!

I think I may be back...for a little while at least....

Hey everyone!! I know it has been  A LONG time....I didn't even realize how long it was until I seen when my last post was dated.....back in FEBRUARY!

I am sorry that I have been gone for so long and I have no good reason why I have been. All I can say is that I was in another car accident in April 2011 (after the car accident I was in in December of 2010) and that put me off of work until present time. I was getting ready to go back to work in August, but I had a slip n fall incident at a Jewel-Osco and that pulled my back AGAIN....so nope, still couldn't go back to work....anyhow, that is the gist of what has been going on this year. At least for health/well being...Luckily the rest of the family has been good!

So, since I wasn't working I took back up crafting. Mostly making cards. I used to scrapbook A LOT quite a few years ago, but fell out of that and got rid of most of my supplies. Then one day I don't remember what I was doing, but the bug hit me again, except this time, instead of scrapbooking I started card making. I just got done making cards last month for the UT Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.....the challenge was to make a card a day (different challenges/different types) for the cancer patients there. I got all mine mailed out about 2 weeks ago. Now I am making Christmas cards.

So, that is what else I have been doing with my time. Now, the reading bug has bit me...lol! I have never stopped reading completely and I have still every now and then put my reviews up on goodreads. Although they were not as detailed as my other ones have been.

I think that my excessive reading is seasonal...haha! I always love to read, but I think during the fall and winter I really love to read. I would say during the fall/winter I read about a book every 2 days or so and during the rest of the year I read a book every few weeks or so....a big difference!

So, to sum it up...I have started doing reviews again on my you tube page and am thinking about adding to my blog again. I do not want to promise anything because I really don't know what is going to happen. With Thanksgiving and Christmas being around the corner and I had an interview for a job yesterday so I may be working again.

Well, it feels good being back...Missed you guys!