It's My Birthday!

.....And that means it your last chance to enter my contest, Halloween/Birthday Contest here.

Also, check out the survey to get them in last minute and follow my blog for another!

AND, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE FABULOUS BIRTHDAY WISHES! You don't know how much they mean to me!

New Layout Design!

Tell me what you think!

I've been getting survey answers telling me it's to cluttered and busy, so I decided to make it a little modern and more simpler.

i was going to do it after the contest was over, but I didn't feel like it, so now it's here. This one is 100% done by me. So please, please comment and tell me what you think.

UPDATE: So, I wasn't sure about the yellow, so I changed it to aqua. Any better?

Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall

Title: Sisters of Misery
Author: Megan Kelley Hall
Publisher: Kensington
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 2008
Pages: 308

Rating: B
Plot - 18/20
Characters - 15/20
Writing - 13/20
Originality - 19/20
Entertainment - 8/10
Recommendation - 9/10
Total: 82/100


Summary:
There are some girls who have everything.

She has the right clothes, the right friends, and the right last name, but fifteen-year-old Maddie Crane sometimes feels like an outsider in her clique in the wealthy, seaside town of Hawthorne, Massachusetts. And when her gorgeous, eccentric cousin Cordelia LeClaire moves to town, Maddie is drawn toward her ethereal, magical spirit and teeters even more toward the edge of her friends' tightly-knit circle...

Then there are the jealous ones.

Kate Endicott and the Sisters of Misery-a secret clique of the most popular, powerful girls in school-are less than thrilled by Cordelia's arrival. When Kate's on-again, off-again boyfriend Trevor takes an interest in Cordelia, the Sisters of Misery become determined to make her pay.

Now Maddie must choose between the allure and power of the Sisters of Misery and her loyalty to her beloved cousin. But she'll have to give up on ever fitting in and accept the disturbing truth about the town, her friends, her mysterious cousin, and even herself as she faces the terrifying wrath of the Sisters of Misery.

Review:
I've heard a ton of great things from this book. I agree it was fantastic. The plot was exciting, suspenseful and thrilling. It was very unpredictable and I was very curious. The plot was original, it was genuinely a neat and unique plot, exceptionally drawn out and written thoroughly. But I think that was the best part about the novel.

I had some problems with this novel.

First: I thought the characters were unreal. I didn't think they were completed well and written efficiently. I thought they could've been better, which brings me to problem two.

Second: I thought that writing the book in limited omniscient point of view was a terrible idea. I think Maddie would've been a more likable and relate able character if the story was written in first person through Maddie.

Thirdly: In some scenes of the book I felt that they were too staged. I feel like Hall could've done so much better in some scenes and make it more natural.

That said: This book was still extremely good. I really loved it. The ending was rather fantastic, exciting and thrilling . . . and. like I said above, though, a little staged. But, those things don't necessarily measure up to how high the plot and originality ranked. Those beat them and this book is really recommend, it's just some things were annoying and I was a tiny bit let down, but still, it's a great book and I CANNOT wait until the next book comes out so I can see what happens from the cliff-hanger ending! The Lost Sister by Megan Kelley Hall comes out August 2009.

ARC-The Blonde of The Joke by Bennett Madison

Title: The Blonde of The Joke
Author: Bennett Madison
Publisher: Harperteen
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: Fall 2009
Pages: Unverified---ARC is only available.
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Val used to have friends- really. But first one and the another moved, and soon she felt herself begin to fade away. That's when Francie Knight happened. Francie is that kind of girl. It's always the blonde, isn't it? The minute Francie calls Val's name at the mall-zing- Val has a near-life experience. She knows nothing will ever be the same.

Francie says that at the mall, you don't steal because you want it. You steal because it's yours already. When Francie happened was the moment Val had been afraid of. The moment she stopped being good- and started taking what she deserves.

Review:
Okay, before I start I want to let everyone know something. This book was given from First Look Teen in June, I think it was. (Not that I got it from them.) This book was supposed to be released early September of this year, but it got delayed until Fall 2009 so they can redo the cover above, which I may say, is a gorgeous cover, I have no idea why they would want to redo it. I don't know why, but it's true. Mr Madison himself told me. Okay, so now that that is clarified, on to the review.

I liked it. It was a very original story full of meaning and lessons. The atmosphere of the novel was interesting and dimensional. The thought behind the story was big and meaningful. Madison's writing style was unique and encouraging and very provoking and taunting to not stop reading. It was exquisite and I just absolutely loved Madison's style, it was very neat and exceptional and distinctive, I loved it.

Now, the only thing that I didn't like about this novel, really, was the characters, they were three-dimensional in the lightest sense and I just hated the way they acted to each other and to themselves. Val pitied herself throughout most of the book and when she changed it was so fast and quick it's like you didn't even see it happen, but it was there and then you saw it and it was big and . . . not her. Francie kind of seemed . . . unreal, and her character seemed like a joke, pun not intended. Her act was silly and she just didn't seemed like she was a real person--until she cracked.

This read is deep, strong, and original. Madison put strong thoughts and feelings in his writing, and we gotta give him extra credit for writing from a girl's P.O.V. so amazingly. This is an deeply memorizing read, and I recommend it when it comes out in a year.

I'm a Contributor

Okay, this is really un-book-related but I felt the need to post about it.

My family signed up about 2-3 weeks ago to start fostering dogs. My family loves dogs, we've always had them, I just never remember growing up without a dog, and even a cat, in my life, so this is really exciting.

Anyways, my mom started this blog, It's A Dogs World. It's a blog that she started to just blog about fostering dogs. We have two dogs right now, they aren't up for adoption yet, but one dog has until tomorrow, and the other has until Saturday, I think. So if nobody claims them, we'll keep them for the long run, well at least one of them.

My family owns 3 dogs, Maggie-Tucker-Dusty, and two cats Dasher-Tupelo (Don't Ask).

So, anyway, I'm a contributor to this blog with my mom. So, what I'm really saying, is just: Check it out, here.

Also, expect a review of The Blonde of The Joke sometime today or tomorrow. It's really late becasue I finished it on Monday but schools been hectic since we only had a three day week and there was deer hunting and a bunch of people were gone, so yeah. But, now, I have four full days left. And remember, the Halloween/Birthday Contest ends this Monday, on midnight, on my birthday, SO get the word out for last minute entries!

When I'm Gone

So, Steph of Reviewer X tagged me for this awesome play list meme. So here goes nothing. This play list has a little of every type of music I like: Country, Rock, Pop, Jazz, etc.

~~~

1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put the artist after a dash following the song name.
5. Put any comments in brackets.
6. Tag some lucky people to spread the disease.

How would you describe yourself?
Love Remains The Same-Gavin Rossdale

How do you feel today?
First Time-Lifehouse

What is your life’s purpose?
This Kiss-Faith Hill

What is your motto?
Serendipity-John Mayer

What do you think about very often?
Only Fooling Myself-Kate Voegele

What is your life story?
Black Balloon-The Goo Goo Dolls

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Shake It-Metro Station

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Feelings Show-Colbie Caillat

What will they play at your funeral?
Dani California-Red Hot Chili Peppers (Ha! That'll get a laugh.)

What is your hobby/interest?
Gunnin'-Hedley (Yeah, uh hmm, sure.)

If you could do anything right now, what would it be?
Intuition-Jewel

What do you want most of all?
Beer Run-Garth Brooks (Haha, riiiiggghhhhtttt......)

What is your greatest fear?
Walk A Little Straighter-Billy Currington

What is your darkest secret?
Addicted-Saving Abel (Addicted to what?!?!)

What is your favorite thing in the world?
Settlin'-Sugarland

If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?
The More Boys I Meet-Carrie Underwood

What is your theme song?
Old School-Hedley

The next time you hear this song (aside from now, that is), you must dance.
Mercy-OneRepublic

What will you post this as?
When I'm Gone-3 Doors Down

Okay, so I tag.....Allie (Just Listen Book Reviews), Liv (Liv's Book Reviews), and Carol (Book-Luver Carol's Reviews).

USA Today's Best Seller Meme

I found this around the blogging world a few times and decided to give it a shot, it was surprising, interesting, and sometimes unbelievable, but fun. Enjoy.

How it works: bold what you've read, italicize what you own, or do both, and *star* books on your TBR list!
____

1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
2 Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution - Robert C. Atkins
3 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown*
4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
8 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
10 Who Moved My Cheese? - Spencer Johnson
11 The South Beach Diet - Arthur Agatston
12 Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
13 Angels & Demons - Dan Brown
14 What to Expect When You're Expecting - Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee Hathaway
15 The Purpose-Driven Life - Rick Warren
16 The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom*
17 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey
18 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
19 Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - John Gray
20 The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
21 Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter
22 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee*
23 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... And It's All Small Stuff - Richard Carlson
24 The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd*
25 Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
26 Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
27 The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
28 The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards
29 The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
30 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
31 A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
32 Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Dr. Seuss
33 The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz
34 Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
35 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
36 Body-for-Life - Bill Phillips, Michael D’Orso
37 New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
38 Night - Elie Wiesel, translations by Marion Wiesel and Stella Rodway
39 Chicken Soup for the Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
40 The Greatest Generation - Tom Brokaw
41 Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
42 The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
43 Wicked - Gregory Maguire
44 Good to Great - Jim Collins
45 Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
46 Eragon - Christopher Paolini
47 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells
48 Your Best Life Now - Joel Osteen
49 In the Kitchen With Rosie - Rosie Daley
50 Simple Abundance - Sarah Ban Breathnach
51 A Child Called It - Dave Pelzer*
52 A Million Little Pieces - James Frey
53 The Testament - John Grisham
54 Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger
55 Deception Point - Dan Brown
56 The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
57 Marley & Me - John Grogan*
58 Dr. Atkins' New Carbohydrate Gram Counter - Robert C. Atkins
59 Life of Pi - Yann Martel*
60 The Brethren - John Grisham
61 The South Beach Diet Good Fats Good Carbs Guide - Arthur Agatston
62 The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town - John Grisham
63 For One More Day - Mitch Albom*
64 The Polar Express - Chris Van Allsburg
65 The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald*
66 The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
67 What to Expect the First Year - Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Hathaway
68 Love You Forever - Robert Munsch, art by Sheila McGraw
69 Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss
70 A Painted House - John Grisham
71 The Rainmaker - John Grisham
72 Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
73 Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier*
74 The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
75 Life Strategies - Phillip C. McGraw
76 Seabiscuit: An American Legend - Laura Hillenbrand*
77 The Summons - John Grisham
78 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt
79 The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
80 The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
81 Goodnight Moon Board Book - Margaret Wise Brown, art by Clement Hurd
82 The Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger
83 Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
84 The Giver - Lois Lowry*
85 Embraced by the Light - Betty J. Eadie
86 The Chamber - John Grisham
87 You: On A Diet - Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet C. Oz
88 The Prayer of Jabez - Bruce Wilkinson
89 Holes - Louis Sachar
90 Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
91 The Shack - William P. Young
92 The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
93 Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen*
94 A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
95 The Seat of the Soul - Gary Zukav
96 Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, Marci Shimoff
97 The Partner - John Grisham
98 Lord of the Flies - William Golding*
99 Eldest: Inheritance, Book II - Christopher Paolini
100 The Broker - John Grisham
101 The Street Lawyer - John Grisham
102 A Series of Unfortunate Events No. 1: The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket
103 The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
104 Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer*
105 The King of Torts - John Grisham
106 The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell
107 The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans
108 Hannibal - Thomas Harris
109 The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama
110 Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs*
111 The Glass Castle: A Memoir - Jeannette Walls*
112 My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
113 The Last Juror - John Grisham
114 The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
115 Left Behind - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
116 America (The Book) - Jon Stewart and The Writers of The Daily Show
117 The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
118 John Adams - David McCullough
119 The Christmas Box - Richard Paul Evans
120 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
121 Sugar Busters! - H. Leighton Steward, Sam S. Andrews, Morrison C. Bethea, Luis A. Balart
122 Blink - Malcolm Gladwell
123 The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
124 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life - Don Piper, Cecil Murphey
125 The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
126 1776 - David McCullough
127 The Bridges of Madison County - Robert James Waller
128 Where the Heart Is - Billie Letts
129 The Ultimate Weight Solution - Phillip C. McGraw
130 Protein Power - Michael R. Eades, Mary Dan Eades
131 Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, Marci Shimoff
132 Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer
133 Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
134 Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin
135 You: The Owner's Manual - Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet C. Oz
136 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List - Patricia Schultz
137 Self Matters - Phillip C. McGraw
138 She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
139 1984 - George Orwell*
140 The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
141 The Millionaire Next Door - Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Danko
142 The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
143 The Zone - Barry Sears, Bill Lawren
144 The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve
145 The Lost World Michael Crichton
146 Atonement - Ian McEwan*
147 He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo
148 Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury*
149 The World Is Flat - Thomas L. Friedman
150 Cross - James Patterson

Total Books Read: 23.

Total Books on TBR List: 19

Total Books Owned: 19

Well . . . It could've been way worse, like never having read, owned or wanting to read any.