End of the Year Countdown, #3

End of 2008 Countdown, book 3
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Release Date: September 14, 2008

I was just awed by this book... it was one of those that snuck up on me unexpectedly and really left a mark. I never could have guessed that the story would be as interesting, or the characters as likeable, or the ending as open... I never would have guessed that I would want a sequel so badly. But I do, because The Hunger Games was amazing. It was gripping and hooking and something that I would highly recommend to absolutely anyone, regardless of age (although I'd say 13+ because of the subject matter), sex, or book preference. I can't think of anybody I know who wouldn't like this book...

Chelsie

Clue #3: 619 Pages

End of the Year Countdown, #4

End of 2008 Countdown, book 4
Chasing Windmills
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Release Date: March 4, 2008

This was just overall a great book. Great characters that I could relate to, and a great story that had me hooked from sentence one, all the way to the end. It was emotional and powerful, and a great love story. I loved reading about a world I've never been a part of, and seeing emotions that I've never imagined feeling... it was a great way to escape reality.

<3 Chelsie

Clue #2: There is a conflict about humanity, and what makes someone human.

End of the Year Countdown, #5 [+ an exciting announcement]

End of 2008 Countdown, book 5
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
by Stephanie Kuehnert
Release Date: July 8, 2008

This was an absolutely fantastic book about a girl, her dreams of finding her mom, and the music that leads the way. It was addictive and lively and interesting... not to mention different. It didn't have an ounce of cheesiness, which made it one of the most real and emotional books I've ever read.

It also didn't hurt that Stephanie is one cool person to talk to. =D

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ANNOUNCEMENT!

I'm going to make this countdown a bit more exciting and host a related contest!

I will be giving away a copy of the book Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine* (the fifth book in the Morganville Vampires series). To win, all you have to do is take a guess at what my absolute favorite book of 2008 was... anyone who guesses it will have a chance at winning! If nobody guesses it, then I'll pick a random winner... but if one person guesses it, then they will automatically be the winner. If two people guess it, then one of them will be the winner... and so on. Basically, the more people who guess correctly, the less of a chance you'll have of winning.

So I'd venture to say that you won't want to share your guesses on this one.

To let me know what you think my favorite book is, email me at bookluver reviews@hotmail.com. Included in the email should be your name and your guess, and also some form of preferred contact information in case you win. I will be taking guesses until my last countdown post on January 1st, right at Midnight.

I will also be leaving clues on my countdown posts, so if you are absolutely stumped you at least have a shot.

You can also browse through my reviews and see what I rated highly... just remember, the book must be a book released in 2008!

Good luck to everyone!

<3 Chelsie

First clue: Amazon Best Book of the Month (which month was it? not telling. I'll just say that it was before July =])

Holidays =D

Happy Holidays! :)

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! That is, if you celebrate Christmas, and if you don't then I hope you have/had/are having a nice whateveryoucelebrate (can you tell I'm not exactly the most culture-knowing person in the world? If you have ever been to my small town you would understand why)

Anyways, the point of this blog is to say that, since it is the holidays, I will not be posting regularly... or be around at all, after tomorrow, since I'll be away for three days. I still have a review of Jars of Glass to post, but that will be waiting until next week sometime...

However, don't forget my end of the year countdown, which will start posting at midnight on Saturday/Sunday. Which will also hold a surprise for ya'll who are interested in reading/commenting on it. =D Hinthint.

Love,
Chelsie

House of Dance by Beth Kephart

Title: House of Dance

Author: Beth Kephart

Summary:

Rosie and her mother coexist in the same house as near strangers. Since Rosie's father abandoned them years ago, her mother has accomplished her own disappearing act, spending more time with her boss than with Rosie. Now faced with losing her grandfather too, Rosie begins to visit him every day, traveling across town to his house, where she helps him place the things that matter most to him "In Trust." As Rosie learns her grandfather's story, she discovers the role music and motion have played in it. But like colors, memories fade. When Rosie stumbles into the House of Dance, she finally finds a way to restore the source of her grandfather's greatest joy.

Eloquently told, National Book Award finalist Beth Kephart's House of Dance is a powerful celebration of life and the people we love who make it worthwhile.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review:

Sorry, the review isn't here! If you're interested in reading my thoughts, click on this link and you will find out!

-Chelsie-

Like OMG Teens Read!

This is one of my absolute favorite message boards (see button and link in sidebar -->)

I am also one of the writers of the Like OMG Teens Read Newsletter... which has found a home right here on blogger. The blog is still in the works, but it will be a compilation of all sorts of bookish articles and news, put together by some awesome bloggers, including myself (while I am probably not one who falls under the 'awesome' category), Vanessa, and Hope, among others.

Like I said, the blog is still in the works, but I figured I'd let anyone who reads my blog know that there's a new blog to possibly look out for. And if you're interested in contributing, well, just go read the blog.

<3 Chelsie

2008 Coming to a Close...

Since it is almost the end of 2008, I am going to propose something...

Ya'll remember the Back to School Countdown I posted back in August? Well, I am going to do an End of the Year Countdown. It will consist of the top five favorite books from 2008... released in 2008, and read in 2008.

This time, though, I'd like other bloggers to participate... I would LOVE to see what everyone's favorites are...

So, basically, this is what I'm doing... I am going to invite everyone to post their own End of the Year Countdown on your blog, if you're interested. The only thing I ask is that, in your first post, you either mention my blog and say that's where you got it from, or link, or something. Give credit where credit is due =D But other than that, you can post it however you want, or you can follow how I am posting, which I will explain below.

If you're feeling up to a countdown, let me know and I'll be sure to go check it out. If not, that's fine too, I just figured I'd let everyone else know to expect another countdown =D

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First Post [#5] on 12/28/08 at 12:00 AM: Fifth Favorite book of '08
Second Post [#4]on 12/29/08 at 12:00 AM: Fourth Favorite book of '08
Third Post on 12/30/08 at 12:00 AM: Third Favorite book of '08
Fourth Post on 12/31/08 at 12:00 AM: Second Favorite book of '08
Last Post on 01/01/09 at 12:00 AM: Absolute Favorite book of '08.

Hope to see at least some of you counting down with me!

Hope's Countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

<3 Chelsie

-also posted on likeomgteensread.blogspot.com-

Waiting on Wednesday

Eternal
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Feb 10, 2009

With diabolical wit, the author of TANATALIZE revisits a deliciously dark world where vampires vie with angels — and girls just want to have fangs.

At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high-school theater wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight. Meanwhile, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, Zachary, demoted to human guise as the princess’s personal assistant, has his work cut out for him trying to save his girl’s soul and plan the Master’s fast-approaching Death Day gala. In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages.

I read Tantalize not too long to go; and even though I didn't think it was the most fantastic book ever, I am still very very interested in this book.

Teen Tuesday: The Week Before Christmas!

So, this week I finished Jars of Glass. I also read and finished Ever by Gail Carson Levine, and started Pride and Prejudice for my school's book club.

Jars of Glass was good. I had a problem with one of the characters (ugh, following the trend again). But then again, this character was someone that the readers is supposed to have a problem with.

Ever was just... okay. I love Gail Carson Levine, but this book just didn't do it for me. And this is why: usually, Levine writes books that are fantasy, but have some sort of realistic element to them. Ever didn't feel that way to me. It just seemed like a book made of coincidences and people/things/events that were there just to be there. It didn't have a purpose... except a possible religious purpose, which was the book's main redeeming quality. Overall it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't recommend this book over Fairest or The Two Princesses of Bamarre.

And Pride and Prejudice... I am only 27 pages into it. But so far, it's not bad. At all. I was thinking there'd be a huge language barrier, but there really isn't... it's not something that I am having too hard of a time trying to understand. I actually like it. =D (By the way, that cover is the actual cover of the copy I bought last week... and it's pink and green and I love it... it's so cute!)

So that's my update. Anyone else have a good reading week?

Also, an interesting tidbit: I did some calculations, and I read one book every 2.7 days. Which is actually not as bad as I thought it would be.

short updates

What a busy couple of days!

My last few days have been hectic, hectic, hectic... but I managed to finish Jars of Glass, and so you can expect a review of that up soon... along with a review of House of Dance.

I just thought I'd give ya'll that update, since I haven't been around much at all.

Tonight and tomorrow I'll be around, though... unless I'm too busy reading Pride and Prejudice, which is our school book club's pick. I am so excited to read it =D Anyone read it/like classics?