Summer Reading Updates

Remember that post I did, once upon a time, that had to do with my summer reading list? Yes, no, maybe so? Well link here to the post. But the point is, I finished it! Here are my critiques of said books;

The Summer We Read Gatsby, by Danielle Ganek - I really did love this book. It's very different from what I had in mind though. You know how you sometimes read the title of the book, and then assume things about the plot/characters of the book? Well the title of this book, for me, evoked ideas of a tragic summer romance, possibly set in the 40's? That is VERY far from the truth however, so reading it was kind of a shock. But only because it was so different than what I was expecting. The plot goes something like this; two sisters spend the summer at their dead aunt's house in the Hampton's  and stumble on several strange adventures.

That's it. The end. Done. Part of me was really disappointed that there wasn't something more substantial to the plot. It seemed a little slow-paced and detached, however that also gave it the feel of being a very summery kind of book to read. Because generally that's how I feel during the summer; slow and slightly detached from real life.

The genre, I believe, is technically romance (or at least that's what the cover art lead me to believe), but mainly I think it's a book about sisterhood. There is a lot of time spent exploring the two main sister characters, Cassie and Peck, and their relationship. 

It was a good summer book because there was that element of romance, a lot of sister-sister interaction, some strange adventures, and an unexpected ending. I would say give it a try if you're list isn't already too full!

The Diviners, by Libba Bray - Sweet mother of pearl I loved this book. It's set in the 20s, and the story revolves around a cast of characters who have special powers, who we slowly come to recognize as "diviners." A lot of the book is very dark, like, very very very dark. This is not for those of weak constitutions. The antagonist scared me out of my wits, and at that moment I was really glad I have a room mate so I'm not downstairs in my basement room all alone. 

I don't want to give away too much information, so let me just touch on some details; Number One) The more you read, the more you understand. At the beginning I almost felt like I had stumbled upon the second book in a series, and not the first. But I promise this is the first in *hopefully* a new series by Libba Bray. So don't feel confused or wary when things are happening that don't make sense to you, because they will. Eventually.

Number Two) Do not read this book at night. Just don't. Please take my advice on this one, because it can be a seriously scary book. Personally, I preferred the very sunny, crowded, and chaotic pool at the middle of the day. Partly because I could tan and read at the same time, and partly because the noise of the pool helped distract me from getting too into the book and potentially dying of fright.

Number Three) Don't let the things I'm saying about how scary it is prevent you from reading it! Honestly I tend to exaggerate, because I'm just a naturally dramatic person. And I'm playing up the scariness level for you, so that when you read it you're like, "oh it's not that bad! I can handle this!"

Number Four) After you read it, I can promise you that you will have an overwhelming urge to start saying things like, 

"the chin wiggle is..." 

"and how!"

"ab-so-lute-ly!"

"That's the cat's pajamas!"

"copacetic"

and "cash or check?"

Because I did. 

Overall it's definitely a must read for your summer lists! Especially if you love adventure, romance, and a little bit of the supernatural.

That about sums it up I think! Currently I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexander Dumas. I used to watch the movie all the time with my grandpa, he's totally into that kind of thing. And with all the swashbuckling romance, how could I resist a blast from the past kind of book? I'll let you know how it is as soon as I'm done reading it!

Deuces

Harry Potter Party

Yes Yes, I know, bad blogger. Feel free to slap me on the wrist.

But I am about to make up for it! Because you see, I have here this little gem of a DIY. Host your very own Harry Potter themed party! My little sister turned 11 two weeks ago. And as my fellow potter heads know, 11 is like, a big deal. A really big deal. So of course we had to throw her the most extravagant Harry Potter party there ever was, in honor of such an accomplishment. I mean really, making it to 11 years old without doing herself or other great harm? That's pretty impressive. 

 Basically the set up was; the kids came through the front door/platform 9 3/4 where they met Professor Trelawney (aka me) who helped them pick a "vault" at Gringotts, with some Galleons in it to spend at the party. 

(to decorate Gringotts, we just took a computer hutch that we had, emptied it out, and found tooooons of shiny items around the house that were gold or silver. And a lot of stuff from Goodwill that we just spray painted gold, then placed in the hutch)

Next they were ushered to Mr. Ollivanders to purchase a wand. Lincoln dressed up as Ollivander and did that station. Basically Quincy had made tons of wands to choose from (using this tutorial), so Lincoln would act all crazy like that mysterious wand maker and tell them to try this wand by "giving it a wave", when they waved the wand he would pull a string surreptitiously tied to his leg that would pull down a picture from behind him. To which the kids would gasp and Lincoln would go, "Oh dear oh dear. Not your wand my good fellow. Not your wand at all." And then let them pick the wand they wanted. And of course, in return for his services they paid him one galleon. 

Once all the kids had arrived, they sat in our living room for the sorting. When their name was called they'd go sit on the chair in the front, don the witches hat, and mom would call out what house they were in (it was all previously organized on a list). Then they got a sticker with their house seal on it for the Gringotts box, and went and sat with their house. 

Next they split up into stations, depending on what house you were in. 

The first station was, of course, a horcruxe hunt! My aunt had hidden horcruxes all around the backyard for them to find. The snake, the locket, the ring, the cup, the diary, a pair of harry potter glasses, and the diadem. Whoever found all of them first got a reward of galleons and candy!

Station two was Potions with Professor McGonagall, because Snape was on a much needed vacation. We had all sorts of bottles (all from Goodwill) filled with different liquids, powders, dried leaves etc. And they combined them in their cauldrons and poured them into little vials that they could wear around their necks. They had to buy certain ingredients with their galleons of course, because that stuff don't come cheap!

Third station was my station, I was Professor Trelawney of course - and as you can tell, I was super awkward and weird. True to character - and therefore I was set up in the gazebo with a diviniation station. Mom told me to basically bs my whole way through the 20 minute session and make up prophecies/read palms. Yeah that didn't work out so well. So I ended up giving a quiz instead, and they had to pay me a galleon just because. Then when they left they got a prize of their choice; bubbles, silly straws, or a slinky. 

Last station was of course, Quidditch! Because no Harry Potter party is complete without Quidditch. Dad, as Kingsley Shacklebolt, was referee. Students had to rent their brooms with 2 galleons. And the point of the game was to get as many balls through the hoops as you could, while Dad was playing Keeper/Bludger. Yes, bludger. He was trying to knock them off their brooms.

During the Quidditch station, Lincoln would run out as a Dementor and attack the kids, who had to cast a patronus charm to fend him off. If they got tagged they had to freeze and wait for someone to help them. After the dementor gets scared away, out comes the chocolate! Everybody got one bar of chocolate to help them regain their full strength (I know. This is epic. I don't even - gah). 

At the end of the rotation of stations (ha! That rhymes!), students convened in the Great Hall (aka our living room) for a counting of all the house points (during that whole time we could award students house points with stickers for doing good things/knowing stuff). The winning house (Hufflepuff!) got to go to Honeydukes first and purchase candy with their remaining galleons. Then everybody got the chance to go purchase candy, and stuff it in their face. 

The meal at the Great Hall was, of course, cupcakes with pink lemonade frosting (they were delicious), and butterbeer. Which my mom and Quincy had made that morning. It's a combination of cream soda, rum flavoring, whip cream, milk, and other delicious stuff. Several kids were addicted to the stuff, and Quincy went so far as to say that "the rum is my favorite!"

Obviously we're doing a very good job keeping her on the straight and narrow. 

Deuces

Summer Reading

Every year when Summer rolls around, new booklists start popping up. I don't know what it is about summer - maybe the bliss of cool afternoons, or the blazing sun in the daytime - that makes us suddenly remember our brains are in our heads and we can read words with it! Imagine that! So we dust off our library cards and head for the local library, or book shop, and buy just about 20 books that sit on your night stand for basically the rest of the summer. Sound about right? 

Well. I'll admit it right here right now, I am no exception to this rule. Although, I am trying to conserve my money for college in the fall, so I tend to spend most of my free summer time (aka when I'm not working either of my two jobs) at the library. Gosh darn it, I love my library! It's the perfect indoor temperature, and has these big windows that you can stare out of and see the tops of the trees swaying in the hot summer breeze. Just thinking about it right now makes me giddy, it's my favorite place in the world! And recently, because of my data-entry job, I've been checking out tons upon tons of books on tape to listen to while I sit at a computer 8 hours a day. 

The Gemma Doyle series, by Libba Bray (historical fiction/fantasy) - I have to tell you first that I absolutely hate every character in this series, and yet this is one of my favorite series to read. And I'm sure that if you're part of any kind of fandom, you understand something of whaT I mean by that. Honestly though, Felicity is a witch, Pippa is a brat, Anne is a complainer, and Gemma just annoys the heck out of me. I suppose the only person I actually like is Kartik, because he's a sexy beast in my head - I picture him as a kind of hot Indian Aladdin. Just do me a favor and read these books. READ THEM. Although I did like listening to them (the narrators do a very good job of making the story and details interesting, and admittedly I understood a lot more of the plot and magical elements of the book after listening to it), I really prefer to read books and turn the pages with my own two hands. 

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare (historical fiction/fantasy) - These books will ruin your life. Hands down. I can absolutely 100% promise you, that you will go topsy from these books. Quickly some background; as you may have heard, one of Cassandra Clare's books is about to become a major motion picture (City of Bones) in August (watch trailer here). That movie is part of a larger series called The Mortal Instruments, this is the Infernal Devices series - kind of like a prequel series. It takes place in Victorian London, and even includes some of the same characters as Mortal Instruments (Magnus Bane *squeals*). If you've already read Mortal Instruments, you will love this as well. With these books I'd say read them if you have the time, but if like me you can only get your lit. fix by listening to them, that's a brilliant option as well. Part of the Clockwork Prince is voiced by Ed Westwick of Gossip Girl! He makes me melt. Let's just look at him for a while:

The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek - Ok this is one of those books that has been sitting on my night stand, and I will get around to reading it when this data entry job ends! But in the meantime, read it and tell me how you like it! I mean, the title kind of speaks for itself don't you think?

The Diviners by Libba Bray - Another Bray novel (I just really like the way she writes), again this is another book I picked off the library shelf but haven't had the time to read yet. But if it's Libba Bray I'm game to give it a shot!

So far these are the only books on my Summer Reading List (besides Harry Potter of course, I re-read Harry every summer. It's basically a tradition). So if you have anymore recommendations please leave a comment below!

Deuces

Summer reading list 2.0

My aunt showed me this website - originally for planning my first bookclub meeting! Themed around The Book Thief (it was sooo good! Sadly I didn't take pictures. After playing around on the website a bit, I stumbled upon their summer reading list! It was lots of fun to look through these books:

This is a new series that I'm particularly excited about. Apparently, a group of authors came together to each write a book about one member of a book club. This one is Olivia, the other books are Paige, Daisy, and Athena. 

This one is more a creepy (perhaps thriller?) type of book. The main character just lost her job, is widowed, and is slowly giving over to dementia. But best of all, her neighboor was just murdered. And she's the prime suspect.

(ooohh suspenseful!)

This is a womans book. All about different type of woman at different stages of their lives - to me it sounds like a parenting book. But for some reason I like those. Don't judge.

You guys. YOU GUYS. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK IT IS RIDICULIOUS. A regency era book, need I say more? Please. For the love of all things holy. Read this book.

This one is another creepy book. I don't know why I read these - my room is in the basement, and it's reaaaally dark down there. These books scare the heebedy jeebies outa me, but I read them anyways. Yeah I know, stupid. I don't really understand what it's about, but I'm tellin you right now, I know there are 39 bodies behind that door. Just you wait. I'm psychic like that.

This is basically a re-telling of the classic Jane Eyre - one of my favorite books of all time (and creepy! It's like a weird form of masochisism. Is it sad that I only know that word from Twilight?)

Another murder mystery, this one placed in the South, a body is found under a peach tree. I'm reading it.

a)It has peaches

b)It's a romance

c)it's a mystery book.

This should be obvious guys.

I love historical fiction - and this book takes many aspects of history and combines them all together in a long love story, from Italy, to America, and back to Europe. 

Pluse it's another love story. And who doesn't love those?

4th day of summer?

It's officially my 4th day of summer.

WAIT WHAT? Yeah, you heard me. CRAZY things are happening in my life right now. It's almost surreal how all of this happened so fast. Sure, freshman and sophomore year weren't necessarily SLOW, but junior year went by so fast I'm still turning around in circles thinking "wait. What just happened?"

But I feel like I've accomplished a lot. Here's what I've been up to:

1. I've been workin on my tan. Holla! I was blessed with a pale complexion that burns easily and makes me feel like a white rabbit. So I've made it my goal to be out in the sun as much as possible during this wonderful summer (wearing plenty of sun tan lotion of course, gotta keep my skin healthy). Part of me is really happy that I'm getting tan! The other part of me is wondering why it's such an important things for girls to be tan? Why can't I be my pasty self? Still fighting this one out in my head, but I'll let you know when I've figured out the answer.

2. I've been reading books. O-ha-ho let me tell you, I've been reading books. Seriously, 4th day of summer and I think I've read 4 books already. I'm book crazy. 

This. book. is. amazing.

Placed in the Reagent era of England, Frederica takes her brothers and sisters up to London to help launch her younger, more beautiful sister, into society (with the somewhat unwilling help of a very wealth "cousin"). This crazy country family gets into so many indecent scrapes and mishaps that I laughed my way through have of the book - and the ending is magnificent! I wish in some ways that the Marquis had been better developed and there had been a bit more at the end - but I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Jane Austen.

Cotillion wasn't my favorite, I didn't become particularly attached to the characters like I did in Frederica or The Grand Sophy - but still and enchanting book. I've started to say things like;

"devilishly good of you"

"insufferable!"

"he's flown into a mish."

Just a few of my favorite sayings.

Also, this book seemed a bit slow for me. I wanted to just skip chapters and head straight to the end. But I promise that if you pull through it, you'll enjoy it!

This is my favorite. Of all of the Georgette Heyer I've read, I love Sophy the most. She's unpredictable, mischievous, outgoing, tall (i love tall people), and friendly. She is everything I want to be, in a book character. It's a long book, but I think you'll be surprised on how much happens and how quickly you get through it. It's amazing!

3. I started a book club (insert smug smile). I'm actually really excited for this, because I love talking about books and reading books, so thought a book club would be fabulous! Because I started it, I picked the first book, which is:

I've read this book before, but I can't wait to read it and then talk about it in book club! I haven't decided what to serve yet at the meeting (foodwise), so if anyone has any splendid ideas it would be devilishly good of you to speak up.

4. I made the workout shirt I put on my list in my last post, it didn't turn out quite like how I had hoped it would, so I won't be posting pictures. I'll try again (possibly) to see if I can get it right a second time.

But here's how I did it:

Click on the picture to get the link to the original website.

I warn you! It's not as easy as it looks!

5. I got a job! FINALLY! Seriously, after searching and searching and searching I finally got a job :) Feelin a little proud of myself right now.

I'm working at the local Jamba Juice - I would post a picture but something about copyright infringement won't let me. Sigh.

It's actually a lot of fun, I make the smoothies and whatever else the customer orders. You wouldn't think making smoothies is hard, but it's kinda hard. It's a little stressful to make sure you do it quickly and get everything right, and don't spill, and be nice to the customer, and yady yady yada. 

Actually, funny story, my first day they had me sit in the back reading the manual guide thing. I was basically reading the recipes on how to make smoothies. Uh, why? I wasn't even MAKING smoothies. I was READING THE RECIPES to make smoothies. yeah that did nothing at all. But I've been working there for about a week now and I'm actually really enjoying the job! Plus I smell like fruit when I come home.

How's your 4th day of summer going?

xoxo

Bookshelves of books

It's been good to take a long break - things have been so hectic lately. I've found that I just hate doing things, I want to sit on the couch and stare at the wall because I've lost all interest in life. 

Yeah, it's not healthy. Don't worry - I'm planning on getting my butt in action any day now.... sorta...

But while I was sitting doing nothing, I found I was craving books - I'll take a trip to the local Barnes and Nobles to find something to read soon, but here's what's on the list of potentials. Give me feedback! Have you read these?

The Kane Chronicles, by one of my all time favorite authors Rick Riordan! I love love love love love mythology - the Percy Jackson series was a-maze-ing. Can't. even. express. So this has DEFINITATE potential.

Another Rick Riordan (I really can't get enough of this guy). Another Greek mythology series (dying! so happy!), so this is another certainty. 

Plus, look at this cover!? Doesn't it just scream adventure? I don't know whoever coined the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover", because they obviously never worked in the book business. Because COVERS MATTER. They set up the entire story, let's be honest with each other. We all judge books by their covers.

Hmm... book business, potential career in the making.

This one is new to the list. I've heard good things about it, plus it's a historical novel (based in WWI era), so I plan on checking it out at the store.

(and good cover right!?)

By the same author that wrote Hugo Cabret (goooood book) - so it's another possibility.

Question: who doesn't like fairytale books? I will hunt them down and set my blast-ended screwt on them. This book makes my stomach do flip flops in excited happiness. I've read a couple books from the "Once Upon A Time" series - and I personally recommend The Storyteller's Daughter; full of mystery and romance. It's beautiful!

This is apparently the first in a mythical adventure childrens series, and I wanna check it out. Because childrens books are just so darn cute!

Let's be honest, this guy is a hottie. Reason #2 for reading this book. Reason #1 is because it was recommended by AustenProse - a personal addiction of mine. My little internet haven. They described it as a Downton Abbey-Gossip Girl blend of secrecy, society, and upper class living. EEP! 

This is.... actually I'm still deciding. It sounds like a keeper - a futuristic American dystopian society (Hunger Games much?) with a competition for glory and riches (see above statement?). The difference is, and I quote, "a cross between the Hunger Games (minus the bloodsport), and The Bachelor (minus the bloodsport), this trilogy launch is a lot of fun" (Publishers Weekly).

Oh good. a lot of fun. Wow you sound so excited about this book.

No but I actually want to try it out - I'm a fan of the dystopian society and plus this book is less gut wrenching. I hope.

Although I was tempted to judge by the cover, I took a sneak peak on Amazon - and from what I've read, it's a witty commentary on the CIA and lessons to be learned from their mistakes and successes. Sometimes I need something clever and high brow to get me through my day.

What can I say? I have a soft spot for politics. It's better than a Sunday afternoon soap opera - very real and very dirty. It's interesting reading the first few pages, I got drawn into the story and thoughts of Edward Klein (who doesn't do much to hide his right wing approach on Obama, even with the Hillary/Bill section thrown in, it sounded too biased to be an accurate read, but I find that reading extreme views on both sides of an argument helps you make your own decisions on the topic, so what the hay? I'll give it a shot. Wow this is a long aside).

And to top it all off, who doesn't love a good Star Wars spoof? Come one people - live a little! 

And may the force be with you

xoxo

ps - how about books you want to read or have read? I want to hear your thoughts!




Edit:
I've updated my reading list! Check out more books I'm interested in here