November 28, 2009

100+ Reading Challenge

Book challenge
J.Kaye is hosting the 100+ reading challenge this year again, and I've decided to join (you can check the rules and all that at J.Kaye's book blog.

I'll be adding a couple more rules of my own:

  1. I'll be reading between 8 or 9 books every month.
  2. I'll only allow myself one re-read per month.
  3. I'll do a 'books of the month' post on the first of ever month (starting on January 1st) and do a tally on the last day of the month (ending on the 31st (my birthday!)) with how many I've accomplished during the month.

January - List
February - List
March - List
April - List
May - List
June - List
July - List
August - List
September - List
October - List
November - List (Challenges Done!)

(Will be updated on the last day of the month!)

How is everyone going? let me know int he comments!

AnimeGirl

November 27, 2009

Oops I did it again!!

Yeah, I did a switch again!

I can't seem to help myself, this background (and banner) are courtesy of The Cutest Blog on the Block and it's oh, so very cute!

Anyhow, I've been thinking on doing something for the holidays, I don't know what yet, but we'll see.

And, since classes are winding up I hope to have more time to read in the coming days.

Thanks so much for being patient.

AnimeGirl

November 16, 2009

Yet Another Layout Switch

snowflakeHello everyone!

As you can see I've done a layout switch in honor of Christmas, it's very early still so I might switch it again sometime soon.

This background is courtesy of Scrap-E-Blog

Hope to bring you more reviews soon!
AnimeGirl

November 13, 2009

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

Van AlenWARNING: This review might contain spoilers of the first three books in the Blue Bloods series.

Schuyler Van Alen has been on the run for over a year, ever since what happened in Rio - when Leviathan was released and her grandfather, Lawrence, was killed - she has known no peace. Desperate, she and friend Oliver try to seek the protection of the head of the European Vampire Coven but once there everything goes wrong.

Elsewhere, Mimi Force - Schuyler's nemesis - is working with a group of Venators (think Vampire investigators) lead by Kingsley Martin, trying to track down The Watcher. Even though part of her can't stand Kingsley, being around him is the happiest she has been in a long while, surprising since her Venator job is keeping her away from her twin and soulmate Jack.

Back in New York, Bliss - friends with both Schuyler and Mimi at different times - fears she's going mad, there are voices in her head and she seems irrevocably linked to the darkest, most dangerous being of creation.

What will happen to these three young vampire ladies?

The Blue Bloods Vampires are pretty much the only vampires I currently like and The Van Alen Legacy is probably the best book in the series so far. I was amazed in the way Schuyler, Bliss and Mimi carried the blunt of the book. At first I thought I would lose interest and get bored with the Bliss-parts since I never thought much of her before, and I thought I wouldn't like the Mimi-parts since I didn't like her but as I found myself racing through the book, all three girls became important to me.

The book is action packed and lots of stuff happen, many things come to a full circle, closing some points of this first narrative arch and setting the stage for the next one (as well as giving an opening for the upcoming spin off, which will be werewolf centric).

The only part I didn't like so much was that we didn't get much on the boys - Jack and Kingsley, mostly - and I sort of missed them. Can't wait for the next book, Misguided Angel, to see where the Blue Bloods take us.

Grade:
starstarstarstar1/2Personal Favorite
AnimeGirl

November 11, 2009

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

Gallagher 3After a rather eventful sophomore year at the Gallagher Academy, Cammie Morgan is enjoying the last few days of summer break by visiting her roommate and friend Macey in Boston, where Macey dad is campaigning to become vice-president of the country.

But, of course, things are never easy for Gallagher Girls, and when Macey and Cammie find themselves in the middle of a kidnapping attempt things change and soon Cammie realizes there is no turning back, and junior year hasn't even started yet!

With the Gallagher sisterhood at risk and one of her best friends in the middle of it all, Cammie's back to school and to her old tricks. Plus, certain guy might or might not be back in her life.

Okay, so I read the first two books of the Gallagher series and they were nice enough but I wasn't really impressed, the books were fun and everything but I sort of expected more... well, I sure got more in Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover, and I can't wait to hear more about Cammie, Macey, Bex and Liz. I might even go back and read Book 2, 'cause I think I just might have been on a bad mood when I read it and that's why I didn't like it so much.

Of course, I'll let you guys know when I do that!

Grade:
starstarstarstar1/3

AnimeGirl

November 10, 2009

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Hunger GamesIn a not too distant future, the U.S. no longer exists and has been replaced by the country of Panem, consisting of 12 districts (the 13th was blown to bits) and one center of power, The Capitol. Now, the Capitol isn't to happy with the districts (because of the rebellion that lead to the destruction of District 13) and to show it's power, each year, The Capitol demands that each of the districts presents one boy and one girl as tribute, said tributes are made to compete against each other in the annual Hunger Games - which basically means they kill each other in a televised survivor/deathmatch competition until only one of them is standing.

The victor is spared and his or her family is showered with riches. This year, Katniss Everdeen watches in shock and horror as her little sister Prim is chosen to be their district's tribute. Knowing the tributes from District 12 rarely stand a chance (with only 2 winners in over seventy games), Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place and is sent to the Capitol along with boy-tribute Peeta, the baker's son. Peeta is not exactly a stranger to Katniss, in fact it could be said he saved her life once, which only complicates things even more.

Once in the Capitol, it's all about survival as the games begin...

Okay! confession time: I HATE dystopic books, they just depress the heck out of me, I had a constant expression of "Huh?" all though A Brave New World when we read it in ethics class back when I was in Prep school, and I could barely stomach Fahrenheit when I read it in college - I still maintain that the only good part is the first one, the rest are kind of meh - so for me it was a bit of a stretch to read The Hunger Games, but I had heard lots of hype about it since last year and when my paws landed on the book I decided to try it.

And I can't say I regret it, the writing is good, I liked the characters and I even mustered some of that like for the narrator, Katniss but I still can't say The Hunger Games is my cup of tea. On the other hand, well, the story is quite good if you can stomach the whole ambiance of the book, and I had some other more particular issues with the book, like Katniss' relationship with Peeta (which reads too much like something forced sometimes, even though that's a bit of the point), and Katniss relationship with her best friend Gale when it's suggested to be more than friendship.

But, all in all, it's a good book. I think that if I were a different reader and I lacked my dislike for this type of book, I could even love it. And there were parts that really sparkled and caught my interest.

Grade:
starstarstar1/2

AnimeGirl