Sunday, 31 January 2010

Music That Reminds Me Of...Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

A couple of weeks ago my sisters discovered this band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, while listening to our local alternative station. We only heard one song and it was enough for us to buy their entire cd off of iTunes. While listening to the song "Home" I knew that it reminded me so much of a book that I'd read but I couldn't place it. A few days ago I remembered what it was that the song reminded me of, Breathing. The song's atmostphere is really Southern so it works really well with the setting of the book. Anyway, I'd love to hear your feedback!

P.S. This is the rockinest band on planet Earth so make sure you listen to the whole song!



Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town working at the library and lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she's convinced he's the one—her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama's strict rules, and stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he's called away to help his family—and seems uncertain about returning—Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own, both literally and figuratively.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Home"

(And contrary to popular belief this band is not from the 70's, their latest album was released in 2009)



[Her:]
Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa,
Not the way that I do love you.


[Him:]
Holy, Moley, me, oh my,
You're the apple of my eye,
Girl I've never loved one like you.


[Her:]
Man oh man you're my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness,
There ain't nothing that I need.


[Him:]
Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie,
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ,
Ain't nothing please me more than you.


[Both:]
Ahh Home. Let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.


La, la, la, la, take me home.
Mother, I'm coming home.


[Him:]
I'll follow you into the park,
Through the jungle through the dark,
Girl I never loved one like you.


[Her:]
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls,
I've been everywhere with you.


[Him:]
We laugh until we think we’ll die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you


[Her:]
And in the streets you run afree,
Like it's only you and me,
Geeze, you're something to see.


[Both:]
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is wherever I'm with you.


La, la, la, la, take me home.
Daddy, I'm coming home.


(Talking)
Him: Jade
Her: Alexander
Him: Do you remember that day you fell outta my window?
Her: I sure do, you came jumping out after me.
Him: Well, you fell on the concrete, nearly broke your ass, you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you out to the hospital, you remember that?
Her: Yes I do.
Him: Well there's something I never told you about that night.
Her: What didn't you tell me?
Him: While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was gonna be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you, and I never told you til just now.


[Both:]
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is where I'm alone with you.


[Him:]
Home. Let me come home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.


[Her:]
Ahh home. Yes I am ho-oh-ome.
Home is when I'm alone with you.


[Her:]
Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my ma and pa...
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alley-ways and pay phone calls...


[Both:]
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is where I'm alone with you...
Tuesday, 19 January 2010

What a Beaut!

(I said that with an Australian accent in my head...)

Today, or yesterday I'm not sure, Ellen Hopkins released the much-awaited cover for the third book in the Crank series. *Insert shrieks here* And it maybe my favorite cover yet! When my sister told me the cover was yellow I was a bit...apprehensive about it because I wasn't sure about the color. But then I saw and there was much ooh-ing and ahhh-ing over it. So here it is folks, the cover for Fallout!





And it is released on Sept. 14, only five days before my birthday. *winkwinknudgenudge* Mom and Dad!

Congrats to Ellen for another gorgeous cover! And thank you Sammy Yuen for creating another mind-blowing cover!

P.S. Go to her website now for a teaser of the book!
Friday, 15 January 2010

Review: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Title: Blood Promise
Author: Richelle Mead
Pub. Date: August 2009
Publisher: Razor Bill
Pages: 512
Copy Received: Bought

Summary:

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?


The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.


He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Review:


After the attack at St. Vladimir's when Rose discoveres that Dimitri has been turned she makes a promise to herself, and to him, that she won't let him live in the in-between state he is in. In the beginning of Blood Promise, we find Rose in Russia in search of him, but it's turning out unsuccesful until she is followed home one night by an Alchemist, Sydney, who knows the village that Dimitri once called home.


On her way to Baia, with Sydney in tow, Rose has a run-in with a couple of Strigoi that leaves her in need of some medical attention (nothing serious, don't worry!). Fate must be working on her side because she when she wakes up, she discovers that she's in the home of Dimitri's family. For awhile, she actually lives with them, they accept her and her relationship with Dimitri. But Rose's arm is twisted by Abe, who we think is a big, bad mob man, to leave the family and leave Baia.


Rose joins up with up with a couple of other Unpromised Guardians to go to a large city nearby that is filled with Strigoi, in hopes of finally finding Dimitri. The gang becomes somewhat feared by Strigoi in Novosibirsk and when they capture one who knows Dimitri, Rose leaves him with a message and sends him on his way. Not too long after Rose is caught by surprise when she is walking alone...at night and Dimitri shows up. She hesitates and gives him the opportunity to knock her out.


Then she becomes his prisoner...


Is it just me or was Rose a little grating on the nerves in this book? She was so unlike herself, so...girly and careless. I know it was because of the drugs in Dimitri's bite but I couldn't stand reading about her being so helpless and not even caring about it. She was so adamant at first about Dimitri being a monster, not being the same man he used to be, but she let that all slide because she could finally hold him in her arms again. I completely understand her side of it but I...didn't agree with it. I was glad that she finally came to her senses in the end. It was a moment to remember!


If I spent the rest of my life raving about this book to anyone I know it still wouldn't be enough to portray the awesomeness of it all. My obsession with these books has gotten a little rediculous, but it's okay because they are so great! There are so many things I want to spoil for the people who haven't read Blood Promise yet! But I will keep the spoilerness to myself. Your welcome. And what was with that storyline going on with Lissa? I mean, who saw that coming? I was floored when the evil, twisted plot of Avery was finally unveiled. Bitch got what she deserved.


Also, we got to learn so much more about the Lissa's spirit abilities, as well as the bond between her and Rose. We meet several other spirit user and even more bonded people. We learn about one person who may have the cure that Rose so desperately wants. Though if you ask me, she's just becoming reckless in her attempts to save Dimitri, it starting to seem as if she doesn't care about anything or anyone else other than him. She'll definitely be putting some lives in danger in Spirit Bound.


Speaking of Spirit Bound...it's going to be one awesome book! The way Richelle left this one led us to believe that several unbelievable things are going to happen in the next book of the series. Can't wait!
Monday, 11 January 2010

Music That Reminds Me Of...The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I hate to post this one because it pairs one of my favorite things with one of the things that I can't stand. Today I am posting about one song that remind me of The Host, it's one of my favorite bands in the world and I hate to compare to The Host but it's what comes to mind whenever I listen to it.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer


Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.


Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.


Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.


Bitemarks and Bloodstains by Finch






My or may we be this way forever?
And tell me lover what will become of the others?
Bones, skin, nails and flesh
On a bed of lack of passion, a midieval consequence
They worry you with all the talk of how you're not their kind


Now I'm stealing her body
and taking it home
There is always one more fall


Maladjusted you must trust me darling
Subsequentially, you see,
You deserve more than me
They bury you while wearing garments of funeral fire


This will hurt you, it's killing me
(This is the salt in my side, this is the thorn in my eye)
This will hurt you, it's killing me
(This is the salt in my side, this is the thorn in my eye)
This will hurt you, it's killing me
(This is the salt in my side, this is the thorn in my eye)
This will hurt you, and I will too, and I will...


Bloodlust, bloodlust, for this girl
Bloodlust, bloodlust, for this boy
Bloodlust, bloodlust, for this girl
Bloodlust, bloodlust, for this boy, this boy...
Another puncture wound and once again forgive my sins


Now I'm stealing her body
and taking it home
There is always one more fall


Now I'm stealing her body and taking it home
This is forever
There is always one more fall
This is forever


(You have no idea how hard it was for me to find the correct lyrics for this. I actually had to type them up myself because I love you guys that much!)

What do you guys think? Does it go?



Sunday, 3 January 2010

Music That Reminds Me Of...Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

So I'm thinking of starting a new meme on my blog because lately I've come across songs that fit books that I've read so perfectly and I feel like sharing them with you guys. Sound like a good idea? I don't think it'll be a weekly meme, just something I post when I hear one of those songs. If y'all want to join in or if you like the idea, let me know! I'd love hearing feedback from everyone!

Obviously this post is going to be about songs that remind me of Shiver. I have only two songs that I think fit the book really well, but if you guys know of anymore then let me know in the comments and I'll post it up here.

Twenty Years by Augustana-
(Lyrics video)





Summer Skin by Death Cab for Cutie-
(Lyrics are in the info on the side of the video)




Want to participate? Leave a link to your post in Mr. Linky so I will know who wants to partake in this new meme!



Friday, 1 January 2010

10 Books I'm Looking Forward To In '10

You have no idea how hard it was for me to pick only nine of my favorite books that I read in '09, but it's going to be even harder to pick only ten books that I'm dying to read this year!

  • Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers



Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

January 5, 2010

  • The Naughty List by Suzanne Young


As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn't enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson's the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn't be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa's own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa's sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

February 04, 2010  

  • Gone by Lisa McMann



Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...
 
February 09, 2010


  • The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan



Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

March 09, 2010


  • The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott




Sarah and Brianna have been friends since Kindergarten when Brianna saved Sarah from a bully. They’ve been close ever since. The boys always go for Brianna. Sarah has been the trusty best friend. She’s been there to encourage and support Brianna consistently and without question (even at her own expense).

However, now that Brianna is dating Ryan, Sarah is having major conflicts within herself. She had always like Ryan ever since he invited her to the dance in 8th grade. They didn’t end up going together that night due to unforeseen circumstances. But Sarah never stopped liking Ryan. Brianna doesn’t know that or simply refused to pay enough attention.

What should Sarah do? She knows she’s breaking the unwritten rule of friendship, but she’s never wanted a boy so much before. Does she ruin her friendship or does she allow her heart to break?

April 06, 2010
  • Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead


Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.

May 18, 2010

  • The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong



The nail-biting climax to Kelley Armstrong's bestselling Darkest Powers trilogy Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them. As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf...Definitely not normal.

April 27, 2010



  • The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (EEEEK!!!)


Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?

The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie's senior year of high school. She and her best friends -- Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse -- are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.

Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer. They'll learn about her family background -- how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. We'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where the next Carrie Diaries book will take place.

April 27, 2010


  • By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julia Anne Peters




Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she's determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for "completers"- www.through-the-light.com.

While she's on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she's waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she's made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won't give up. And it's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life. Isn't it?

January 5, 2010
  • The Mark by Jen Nadol 


Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

January 19, 2010
 
So what is everyone else looking forward to reading this year?