Four to Score

In a series like the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, you pretty much know what you're getting with each book.  Stephanie will get an FTA (Failure to Appear) that seems easy (because everyone knows that she is no good at her job), it will turn out to be not so normal, she'll track him/her down anyway, unravel the mystery, avoid getting killed, and pay her rent at the end.  I keep waiting for it to get boring, but it doesn't.  In the first book, her FTA was the man she lost her virginity to back in high school.  In the second book, the B story was her grandmother's disastrous obsession with attending wakes.  In the third book, her FTA was the most loved and respected man around.

Four to Score delivered everything I expected and still kept it fresh.  This time, Vinnie hires Stephanie's biggest rival, Joyce Barnhardt, to track down the same FTA!  I hate Joyce.  I got so mad whenever she showed up, but it certainly kept the books fresh.  And the way Stephanie deals with her at the end makes me laugh.

As for romance, that is definitely still there!  I love the awkward romantic tension between Stephanie and Morelli (although Ranger is hot, too).  When the bad guy tries to kill Stephanie by blowing up her apartment, she decides the only person she hates enough to risk his life is Morelli... and she moves in with him.  Obviously in a community like theirs, the talk starts immediately.  Stephanie has often had to sit through awkward family dinners and it was even more fun seeing her sit through an awkward family dinner with Morelli's family.  Plus, when Morelli's grandmother decides Stephanie is going to get married and have a baby (she is believed to be psychic), all of the extended family started bringing over food and baby items.

These books are non-stop conflict.  It's where the fun happens, it's where the comedy happens, and it's where the action happens.  I really can not wait to keep reading this series.

This book counts towards the following challenges: 100+, Harry Potter Reading challenge Hide and Seek mini Challenge.

Book Blogger Hop 4/22-4/25

"If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"


I love this weeks question.  I am constantly reading new books and sometimes it is nice to KNOW I am going to love a book before I read it.  Or, if not love, at least enjoy.  If there is a book  I love, I buy the next in the series (because do they even print stand alone books anymore? HA!) or another book by that author.  I don't let myself read it right away, because it's more fun making myself wait two or three books before starting it (I also thinks this will prevent me from getting bored with the author).


Right now I'm going through the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.  I also just bought the first of her Alex Barnaby series and just started the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben.  And I bought a couple books after reading Zombies Vs Unicorns and Geektastic, because there were a few authors that just shone.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

It's really hard to review the Harry Potter books.  Everybody's read them (or at least 99% of the people interested enough in books that they would read blogs like mine) and I've read them and blogged about them so many times that I never know what to write.  Last November, I read and blogged about the entire series.  And here I am, less than half a year later, getting ready to do it again as part of the (awesome) Harry Potter Reading Challenge.

Still, the books never get old and I seem to find something new to say every time.  The books are just that good.  Every time I read them I notice something different and they often seem more real than my own world (that doesn't mean as much as you think--I live in LA).

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is at times both my favorite book in the series and my least favorite.  Not only is it the slowest paced book in the series, but it also doesn't fit as well with the rest of the series as the other books do.  This book could definitely have stood on it's own (wink, wink everyone writing series) and a few things bother me that seem inconsistent with later books.  None of these things (like the first years taking the boats back across the lake at the end of the year) are important, but still they bug me every time I reread this book.

At the same time, the book has this special place in my heart.  It is Harry's humble beginnings as a wizard and he falls in love with Hogwarts at the same time as we do.  This is the book where we get to play in the magical world without really being afraid of Voldemort.  It's where we meet some of my all time favorite characters for the first time and often reading this book is less like reading a book and more like a trip down memory lane.

Either way, these books just make me want to keep reading them.

This book counts towards the following challenges: Read Me Baby One More Time, 100+, and the Hogwarts Reading Challenge.  Track my progress at my 2011 Challenges Page.

City of Fallen Angels

I read City of Fallen Angels last weekend for the readathon, but it's taken a while to post about it because I haven't quite figured out how I feel... or rather, I was hoping I would change my mind.  It was my most anticipated book of the year, a continuation of one of my favorite series, and I really wanted to love it.

But I didn't.

I'm not really sure how to summarize this book since the description on amazon is not accurate.  It's probably bad form, but consider this review for those already familiar with the series.

I knew going in that Simon would be a main narrator (although from the Amazon description, you wouldn't think he was even a major part of the book).  I would go so far as to say that he is the main character of the book, since he is the one who is most active during the climax.  But Clary and Jace--the main characters of the first three books--are so prominent that I couldn't quite get away from them.  It threw off my whole connection--I couldn't totally get behind Simon as the most important character, but yet I had lost what made me identify with Clary and Jace.  I think a big problem with this is that this book focused so much on Simon while setting up the new big plot for the trilogy to focus on Clary and Jace, again.

While I loved a lot of the banter between Simon, Jace, and new werewolf (to us) Kyle, every other relationship felt like it had been written by Josh Schwartz.  There were so many relationship issues that I often lost track of the action trying to follow all the bickering.  And the betrayal the book trailer promised... didn't feel like betrayal.  It just felt like a really crappy situation.

Honestly, I think the next two books will probably rock.  The end, while I found it incredibly cheesy (the bushes, Clary, really?), set up a big enough adventure that I hope the characters will be able to get over themselves and their relationships.  I still love this world and I am still really hoping to love the new books.  Clare has so much to delve into and is totally capable of bringing it as far as it needs to go.

This book counts toward the following reading challenges: 100+, and Ancient Runes for The Harry Potter Reading Challenge.

Dancing In My Nuddy Pants

I love the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison.  Along with Harry Potter, it is the one series that keeps (and builds) my attention through the very last book and that I can read over and over again.  Plus, it doesn't hurt that they have awesome covers.

Dancing In My Nuddy-Pants is the fourth book in the series that follows fourteen year old Georgia as she stalks boys into liking her.  In this book Georgia is struggling with the fact that she kissed Dave the Laugh at the end of book three, even though she has the ultimate Sex God boyfriend (there is no actual sex involved, it's just what she calls him because he is a rock star... kind of).

To say this book is plot heavy would be a lie.  It really does feel like the diary of a normal life.  But that is not to say that Georgia doesn't have an arc.  It's very interesting, because so much of Georgia's time is devoted to non-conformity (she goes out of her way to wear her school beret in the funniest way possible), but her arc is about her conforming to her own and other's expectations of her love life.  As usually happens when one tries to conform to anything... it does not go well.  The end is actually quite brilliant in a way that can sneak right by you if you aren't paying attention.

The disconnect between what a character is telling us and what is actually happening is one of my favorite parts of storytelling.  This book is a great example of how that is done well.  Georgia is probably the most self-centered narrator I have ever read.  To be fair, we're reading her diary, so I don't find it off-putting, although I know people who don't read these books because they do (looking at you Romo).  But even though the entire book is Georgia-centric, we have very clear images of all of the characters from the major (Mutti, Jaz) to the minor (Gorgy Henri, Mr. Across the Road).  Unlike Georgia, we aren't blindsided when the SG (Sex God) comes out as a sensitive emo boy who cares about the environment and the world and not the sexy rock star Georgia wants him to be.

I am so glad I started the series from the beginning.  They are hilarious--I always laugh out loud (it was only a problem the first time around when I was reading in a lecture).  But they are a lot more than fluff.  I didn't expect to learn so much about writing in my rereading of this series, because they are light and fun.  They remind me that good writing doesn't have to draw attention to itself.

This book counts toward the 100+ challenge, Read Me Baby One More Time, and 7 in a series for the Hogwarts Reading Challenge.  Track my progress on my 2011 Challenges Page.

Readathon - Post Four

I'm peacing out.  It's been fun everybody and thanks to everyone involved working behind the scenes.  I made the full 24 hours last time, so I don't feel guilty finishing early.  Right now I'm having trouble focusing on the words and when I do, I'm concentrating so hard that I have no idea what's going on.  And I've read this book a thousand times before.  All signs point to bed.  I'll get more sleep ahead of time next time.

I'll post the wrap-up meme here tomorrow.  For now, it's a sleepathon.

Wrap-up
1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  
All the hours after 20.  I didn't get a whole lot of sleep this past week (New morning workout regimen) and only about 5 hours Friday night, so I was already feeling sleep deprived at the beginning.  The last few hours were rough and I had to turn in early.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
Memento Nora, any Harry Potter, any Georgia Nicholson, any Stephanie Plum.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Only suggestions that I'd make on a personal level.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Not sure, but it was interesting seeing new(ish) mediums being incorporated, like twitter and facebook.

5. How many books did you read?
two and a half.  I was hoping for more, but I read really slow when I'm tired and I turned in early and didn't put my phone on silent.  Hehe.

6. What were the names of the books you read?
City of Fallen Angels, Dancing in my Nuddy Pants, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. 

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Dancing In My Nuddy Pants or Harry Potter.  I've read them both before and they are two of my favorites.

8. Which did you enjoy least?
City of Fallen Angels.  It was great, but it fell short of my expectations.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
The ryhmes are super fun!  They always make me laugh and really encourage me!  Thank you everyone who stopped by.  I was a selfish/loner reader this time around.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
Very.  I'm totally digging it, still.

Readathon - Post Three

Been a while since I updated.  I'm tired.  I'm pounding the coke and tea.  I had to take a thirty minute break to go buy pizza because I clicked pick up instead of delivery and didn't realize until I was getting impatient waiting on the delivery guy.

I've finished Dancing In My Nuddy Pants (Was awesome, Bittner, and I'll review it this week :) ) and am on to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.  To stay up I've refrained from turning on the heat even though it is WAY COLD for California right now, am drinking lots of caffeine, reading books that I know will keep my interest, and trying to comment over on the readathon website and maybe tweet.  Right now I am curled up in a blanket, but if the temptation to sleep becomes too tempting, I'm going to finish out the last few hours on my Core Exercise Ball.

HOUR TWENTY
To keep myself awake, I've taken to reading Harry Potter.  Aloud.  In a British accent.  I am oh so American.  On to the mini-challenges:
The Hour 19 Challenge - Bookish Humor
It says it can be anything.  This has nothing to do with books, but it has plenty to do with making me feel like my childhood is still relevant...



I could watch this over and over.  It doesn't get less funny.

AND....

A Character I'd run away with for the mini crush challenge:
I've talked about this series a lot, but hands down my favorite boy in a series is  Dave the Laugh (Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison).  This is assuming that when I'm running away with him, he's no 16.  Because if he is, that's just creepy.  But he's a laugh.  What can I say?

Runner up is Marcus Flutie (Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty) because he made me forget Edward Cullen.  Also this haiku:
Furious flutter
Awakened Hummingbird Heart
Hello hello Love.

Readathon - Post Two

It took longer than I expected, but I finished City of Fallen Angels and Currently reading Dancing In My Nuddy-Pants.  I'm going for some quick reads for the second half of the day!


Hour Twelve
Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?  Bed. :)
2. How many books have you read so far? Working on number 2.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?  There are way too many that I want to read!  Probably Harry Potter or The Named or Delerium or Paranormalcy or Drop Shot???
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No. I made lots of different plans, but am now ignoring my phone.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  Yes, but none too bad.  Lots of texts from The Romo encouraging me to keep reading and I had to go pick up a package in the office of my building, but that only took about five minutes.  Been pretty on task, just tired.  Note to sleep.  Get a full night sleep for the next readathon.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  Last year I loved the interaction, commenting, tweeting, texting, posting a blog every single hour.  I'm surprised that I'm having just as much fun this year, even though I'm taking a totally different approach.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  Keep on being awesome!!!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?  Get a full night of sleep.  For the entire week before this.  We're halfway through, it's 4:30pm where I'm at.  I shouldn't be tired.  But I am. 
9. Are you getting tired yet?  No... why?  Have I mentioned it? :p
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?  I've been reading heavy action and heavy comedy.  Later I'm going to read heavy action-comedyies.  Also I'm going to do most of my reading sitting on a balance ball so I don't fall asleep.  :)




HOUR FOURTEEN
Midnight Book Girl asked us to make a sentence using books we have on hand.  This is mine:

An Abundance of Katherines burn the dark and hollow places.

I think it's funny.  But then, I have dark humor when I'm not going on this many hours of reading straight.


HOUR FIFTEEN
I commented on the mini-challenge this hour, which asked us to choose a character from a book we've read today and give them a theme song.  This is my response:
I'm reading Dancing In My Nuddy Pants by Lousie Rennison.  The main character Georgia could have two theme songs.  Just Dance by Lady Gaga, because she is always dancing and also kind of selfish and fun.  Or Friday by Rebecca Black because Georgia would totally make her own music video that is that embarrassing.  She did, after all, go to a party dressed as a stuffed olive.

Readathon - Post One

Yes... the Readathon is here!  My coffee is on, my Cinnamon rolls are in the oven, and the first meme is posted. Last year I did a thousand different posts.  Today I'm going to try to keep it for a few, but just keep editing it.  I'll start a new one when this gets overwhelmingly long.


HOUR ONE
1)Where are you reading from today?  Not sunny at this hour Los Angeles, CA.
2)Three random facts about me…  I'm awesome.  I'm afraid of heights.  These are the only two days a year where I have to get up early and still look forward to it.
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?  Too many, but I can't live without choices.
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?  I want to make it through all 24 hours and would like to finish: City of Fallen Angels, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Dancing In My Nuddy Pants, and Four to Score or Drop Shot.  I don't remember how many books I read last year and I've got a million other choices too.
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?  BE FLEXIBLE.  If you're trying to stay up the whole 24 hours, read what keeps your interest.  This is not the time to power through a boring or just okay read, especially at the end.  I like short, easy to read books with a lot of comedy and if I get tired later, I'll probably hop on the elliptical while reading to get the blood pumping.


HAPPY READING!!!




HOUR FIVE
Alright, I just left a comment on the hour five mini challenge, which asked us what our favorite "classic" is.  I chose the Great Gatsby because it is beautiful and haunting.  I've talked about my love for it on this blog before, but it has definitely influenced the way I perceive love (as well as other things) both in life and literature.


Right now I am halfway through City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare which I have been (im)patiently waiting on for several months.  I'm so glad I have an excuse to stay in bed and read it today.  I did not sleep well last night and still feel like I'm waking up, but I'm going to take a big comment break in a few hours when I've finished, then move on to several (much) shorter books.




HOUR EIGHT
All of the mini-challenges have been very cool this year, but I'm totally enjoying concentrating more on reading instead this time.  I just commented on Sheila's blog for this hour.  She asked for discussion worthy book club picks and I suggested anything dystopian like Ender's Game and Memento Nora, as well as Boy Toy by Barry Lyga (which I loved and want to reread).  I'm almost done with City of Fallen Angels and about ready for lunch.  One third of the way through the day and it still feels like I just started.

I Love Him To Pieces

I Love Him To Pieces (My Boyfriend Is A Monster #1) is a graphic novel following the new romance between jock Dicey and supernerd Jack Chen during the zombie apocalypse.  The title page sets the tone for the rest of the story with:
I Love Him To Pieces
or
My Date Is Dead Weight
or
He Only Loves Me For My Brains
Hilarious.  You can tell right away that this book is going to have all the right sorts of fun within a very established genre.

Jack Chen is a nerd with anime hair (what's not to like?) and Dicey is hilarious.  The first thing she says to him is "JACK CHEN YOU'RE THE FATHER OF MY BABY".  I laughed out loud as on the next two pages Jack cleans up his destroyed science experiment and Dicey smiles (with only a little bit of guilt) as she introduces Jack to their baby egg for Health class.

Then we took some time to get to know them, and they were easy to like... Dicey with the dead mother who loves her little brother and father and Jack Chen with the scientist parents who leave him alone for long periods of time while they try to save the world.  It was nice to see Dicey and Jack Chen grow to like each other instead of falling for each other in the panic of a zombie onslaught.  Their romance felt natural, not desperate like they are just worried that they may never have the chance to love someone again.

Even so, they said the "L-word" pretty quickly.  It's pretty heavy for a first date, even if your first date is fighting your way out of the zombie apocalypse.  And although the stakes are raised and they are now fighting zombies instead of skipping school, the story still manages to be incredibly fun.  Jack gets bit, but has medicine that will fight the infection (courtesy of his parents--the lead scientists on curing the zombie fungus), but when he runs out they have to find a way to slow down the infection.  They do so with the use of an ice cream truck.  It would be funny enough on its own, but Dicey turns on the music and all the zombies come running.

Like I said, this book is fun from beginning to end, even if it did wrap up a little neater than I expected.  I loved the story, I loved the storytelling, and I loved the characters.  It is the perfect example of why I want to read more graphic novels.

I read this e-galley from the publisher on my iPhone using Netgally.  It counts toward my 100+ reading challenge and where are you reading for Florida.  Track my progress on the 2011 Challenges page.

Writing Update - Goal check!

I wrote this post on Friday night (April 1st) to motivate myself to finish my draft... I finished.  This totally worked.  I was motivated, just apparently not enough to hit PUBLISH.

You may have noticed that the number of book reviews has slowed down... it's because I've been setting stupid crazy deadlines for myself with my writing.  March 5th, I wrote about how excited I was that I had finished the first project of the new year, a rewrite of a family comedy.  I spent the next two weeks getting ready for my sister's wedding and making her an (awesome) guest book.  That left two and a half weeks left in April.  The perfect amount of time to write a script in a genre I've never tried before.

Yeah, right.

I'm exhausted, but somehow I have a very rough draft.  When I finish revising I'm sure it will look totally different, but I feel accomplished.  Kind of.  The list of ideas I want to work on is growing, growing, growing.  There are so many projects I want to start on and so many projects that I need to revise.  It gets frustrating because I think I slow myself down by switching back and forth between projects, but it is the only way I've found to truly distance myself from my drafts so that I can go at them again with fresh eyes.

This month, the goal is to rewrite the YA manuscript.  It's so close to being done that I can taste it (waffles with strawberries if you're wondering), but even so I am beyond excited to take next weekend off from writing to do nothing but read.  Saturday, I'm going to participate in the readathon and then I'm going to finish up with a day of relaxing and sleeping on Sunday.