The Summer I Became a Nerd (Book Review)

The Summer I Became a Nerd I picked up in the dead of Winter. But, because of the overall wonderfulness of this book, I would also recommend it to Spring/Fall readers. THE CHARACTERS: Madelyne Summers is a cheerleader, but she holds a secret love. Her love for comic books/books in general. What a unique character! I loved her. Maddie is afraid to be herself after being laughed at for her love of comic books at a younger age, which is perfectly understandable....Who else has felt as if they can't be...more The Summer I Became a Nerd Leah Rae Miller On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way. Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever. Review: The Summer I Became a Nerd I picked up in the dead of Winter. But, because of the overall wonderfulness of this book, I would also recommend it to Spring/Fall readers. THE CHARACTERS: Madelyne Summers is a cheerleader, but she holds a secret love. Her love for comic books/books in general. What a unique character! I loved her. Maddie is afraid to be herself after being laughed at for her love of comic books at a younger age, which is perfectly understandable....Who else has felt as if they can't be themselves at some point of there life? *raises hand* Especially with love for reading. People laugh at you, roll their eyes, you get the picture. Maddie's troubles are completely realistic, and relatable. There should be more characters in YA books who read. Logan...is adorable (can I find a guy like him?) He is sweet, nerdy with his comic books, and a really nice guy all around. One of the best guy characters I have come across in a book! The Plot: There were a couple plot points in the book that I felt came across way to fast.....Which is the only thing I can think of to say bad about this book. The plot was realistic, pretty fast paced, never boring, and overall a really great, original story. Overall I really liked this one, and other than a couple of plot point dislikes I loved every part of it! A definite recommendation to lovers of fun YA contemporary

Obsidian (Book Review)

This was my second Jennifer L Armentrout book. After reading Cursed, and really liking it....I made sure to keep my eyes open for a copy of this one. The urge of looking for it was deepened when it was recommended to me by several people. I am so glad that I read this! The Characters: The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book! They were all so unique, and fun.....The main character Katy was a refreshing and unique take on a book blogger, and book nerd. She was an absolutely incredibl...more Obsidian Jennifer L Armentrout Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don't kill him first, that is. Review: This was my second Jennifer L Armentrout book. After reading Cursed, and really liking it....I made sure to keep my eyes open for a copy of this one. The urge of looking for it was deepened when it was recommended to me by several people. I am so glad that I read this! The Characters: The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book! They were all so unique, and fun.....The main character Katy was a refreshing and unique take on a book blogger, and book nerd. She was an absolutely incredible main character and easily my favorite part of the book. The love interest Daemon grew on me as the story went on, (so if you are reading this and don't like him at the moment, I promise he will get better). Yes Katy could be described as annoying, and Daemon could also. But altogether I really liked these characters. The banter between the two of them was hilarious to read about. The Plot: Not so crazy about the alien style plot. But Jennifer made it work out. I would read anything by Jennifer L Armentrout just for her writing. Definitely one of the best authors I have read. As I said above, sci-fi/aliens are not really my thing. And this was my least favorite part of the story (and I know that it is the entire plot) but by the end the sci-fi had grown on me a little. And I actually was enjoying it. Overall I love Jennifer L Armentrout's writing. I would read anything by her. I finished this one and was instantly left wanting more, (which unfortunately wasn't possible at the moment) and although I haven't picked up the rest of the series yet, I definitely plan to. An easy 4 out of 5 stars to this one!

Characterize It (3)

Welcome to Characterize It, a meme held every Thursday and hosted by http://theyabookbutterfly.blogspot.com/

As usual for memes, link the meme back to the host page so that other can join in!

 

Going by a schedule, every Thursday there will be a different "theme" for a different character.

This week I decided to do a Strong Female Character......because who doesn't like reading about them? I will have a schedule  for the next couple of months posted pretty soon, and hopefully some other blogs will join in!

 

The Bibliophile- Have you come across a girl  character in a book that is just as bookish as you?

 

This week I have two picks, one from a classic book and one from my usual YA genre.

 

Classic Book is Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice.

If you haven't read Pride and Prejudice, then I HIGHLY recommend it. If only to learn about Elizabeth Bennett's love of books. Elizabeth is one of my all-time favorite characters, and although her love of books is only mentioned in a couple of scenes in Pride and Prejudice.....It is pretty obvious that Elizabeth is a pretty bookish person.

 

 

 

YA Book is Katy from the Lux Series.

Katy not only is a HUGE reader, she is also a fellow blogger! I had absolutely no idea when I started Obsidian that Katy was going to be like that, but I was very pleased to find such a unique bookish character.

 

 

 

 

 

What do your friends/acquaintances say about what YOU are reading?

What do your friends/acquaintances say about what YOU are reading?


Some of the things that you may have heard....
"Young adult? What is that?"
"Why do you like to read so much?"
"Reading is for people who don't have a life."
"Why not read something worthwhile? Like adult books, or classics..?"


First of all, just because something was written a long, long time ago doesn't mean it is good...For instance.



Sure, it is well written.....But honestly the entire concept and story line of this book was annoying. As was the main character!

Instead of reading that, I could read the beautiful literary novel.....


I wasn't crazy about the entire depressing story line. But one thing that can never be said about this book is it is poorly written. The Book Thief reads just as good as a lot of classics.

And I don't even want to get started on reading Adult not Young Adult books. The only difference that I see between the two, is that Adult are about (well) ADULTS! And the Young Adult books are about TEENAGERS!!

(Imagine that!)

I'd say most of the teenagers I have met, if they have picked up a book within the last year it has either been The Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, a John Green book, or Divergent. And the ones who have read John Green and Divergent are the ones that pick up about 5 books a year.

Never ever feel bad about your reading material if you love to read.

What have you heard said about you reading habits/material? Anything funny? Interesting?

Top Six Things On My Reading Wishlist

Hosted by  http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

 

Top Six Things On My Reading Wishlist

 

In no particular order.

 

Less love triangles.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with one guy being in love with one girl.

 

  

More Historical Fiction Romance.

I am a ginormous fan of Historical Fiction and romance , and I honestly wish there was more of it around!

I really liked Code Name Verity, but it had no romance......I am hoping for more of this genre around!

 

 

Less Annoying Main Characters.

I really hate when I find my main character to be whiny.

 

More Mermaid Books.

Yup, you read it right. I can't get enough of mermaid books and I wish that I could find more of them!

Examples:

 

Less Paranormal Trilogy's.

I wish that I could find more paranormal books that are duology's or standalones.

More Teenage Girl Spy Thrillers.

You know, Gallagher Girls........

 

 

 

 

Monday YA Author Interview With Anne Blankman

Anne Blankman
Twitter Website Goodreads 
Where are you from?
Niskayuna, New York, a small town near Albany


 When and why did you begin writing?
I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing stories--even before I could actually write words, I was creating stories by drawing pictures and stapling them together to make a "book." The urge to tell stories has always been in me.


 What books have most influenced your life most?
The Diary of Anne Frank really affected me. I was twelve when I read it for the first time, and heartbroken when I found out what had happened to her. That book sparked my fascination with history.
And, of course, I have to include Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery since I'm named after the title character! :)


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
My mom, Lynn Blankman, is a MG author, and she helped me whip Prisoner of Night and Fog into query-ready shape. She's unflinchingly honest and a careful reader.

What book are you reading now?
Right now I'm doing research for my third book so I'm reading a lot of nonfiction about seventeenth century England.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I'm part of a debut authors group called the YA Valentines, and all of their books have piqued my interest! It's such an eclectic group, with books ranging from high fantasy to science fiction to contemporary realistic fiction to historical thrillers. Getting to read their ARCs has pulled me out of my reading rut of YA fantasy and historical nonfiction.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Ooo, this is almost a mean question! :) How can I possibly pick just one? The first author who pops into my head is Jane Austen. Her characters are so fully developed and beautifully drawn.

 What was the hardest part of writing your book?
For me, actually sitting down and writing the first draft is the hardest point. Coming up with the idea is exciting. When you're revising, you've already got something to work with. But forcing yourself to sit at your desk and start filling a blank page is the most daunting aspect of writing.
 
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Yes!
 
What character in your books do you relate to most?
 Gretchen, the protagonist. Our lives are completely different, but Gretchen struggles with the same issues we all face growing up--trying to decide who you and what you believe, falling in love for the first time, becoming disillusioned with the adults in your life who had always seemed infallible.
 

 

 
Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
I love running track races with my husband. I run 5-6 miles a day, five days a week. It's a great time to brainstorm the next scene in my book!
 
Favorite Movie?
Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest". You've got gorgeous Cary Grant, an intriguing mystery, and heartstopping action--what more could you want?
 
Chocolate or Vanilla?
 Vanilla
Puppy's or Kittens?
 Kittens, no question! (I've always had cats)
Beach or Mountains?
 Beach
If you could be a color, what color would you be?
 Sky blue
Favorite Dessert?
 Banana chips (yeah, weird, I know!)
If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Sally Lockhart in Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke trilogy. She's smart, tough, pretty, determined, and a crack shot. Seriously, who wouldn't want to be her?


Anne's debut novel Prisoner of Night and Fog is coming out April 22nd 2014 from Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins.

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

No One Else Can Have You (Book Review)

The people who read this book are split into two groups..... The group that LOVED this book, and the group that HATES this book. Unfortunately I am now part of the second group. Five things I couldn't stand: First of all this is an incredibly boring book. Nothing excited me. Second the main character is super annoying. Third the writing is like reading a Pretty Little Liars book (and that is not a good thing) Fourth the murder mystery part of the book (which was supposed to be the main plot) was set u...more No One Else Can Have You Kathleen Hale A quiet town like Friendship, Wisconsin, keeps most of its secrets buried . . . but when local teen Ruth Fried is found murdered in a cornfield, her best friend, Kippy Bushman, decides to uncover the truth and catch the killer. Since the police aren't much help, Kippy looks to her idol, journalist Diane Sawyer, for tips on how to conduct her investigation. But Kippy soon discovers, if you want to dig up the truth, your hands have to get a little dirty, don'tcha know. In this riveting young adult novel, Kathleen Hale creates an intricately plotted murder mystery that will keep readers guessing, laughing, and cringing until the surprising final pages. Review: The people who read this book are split into two groups..... The group that LOVED this book, and the group that HATES this book. Unfortunately I am now part of the second group. Five things I couldn't stand: First of all this is an incredibly boring book. Nothing excited me. Second the main character is super annoying. Third the writing is like reading a Pretty Little Liars book (and that is not a good thing) Fourth the murder mystery part of the book (which was supposed to be the main plot) was set up and executed terribly. Fifth there are some pretty disturbing jokes in here. I won't go into detail, but they were not funny at all. There are so many things just thrown into this book that didn't make ANY sense. I like my murder mystery's out there, where I can try and guess who it was before the end of the book. And where the facts are put out there, but the main character continues to find out things. The murder mystery was ultra confusing in this one. Everything felt so thrown in there. And I didn't actually feel like I was in a murder mystery. I felt as if I was in a soap opera where a main character is obsessed with some thing's, and where the main character has all of these previous problems which are never really explained...... One thing that this reminds me of is some of Shakespeare's work. His murder/comedy plays. But the differences between these is Shakespeare comedy's are actually funny. His writing is good. And he actually makes his story's make sense. I couldn't connect with the characters AT ALL, none of them. And I don't feel that way that often. This was one of my most looked forward to releases of 2014. And it was so disappointing. If (and only if) you enjoy the Pretty Little Liars series will I recommend this to you. If you enjoy awkward silly things being thrown into a (trying to be serious) plot..... I love thrillers and mystery's so much. And I wish that I had loved this one. I did finish this one, but I struggled. So, so, so disappointed. This had potential. The summary sounds amazing. But it didn't get there for me.