tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781920964388214842024-03-05T05:57:30.457-08:00A Journey Through BooksAlliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-72693942790865985852010-09-20T07:13:00.000-07:002010-09-20T07:13:39.328-07:00Unintended Hiatus<div style="text-align: justify;">Wow. I haven't logged onto Blogger for about two or three weeks. School started and well...my life immediately disappeared. I'm slowly getting a decent schedule, three weeks in, and shall hopefully be back into updating this very soon. I'm glad to have that schedule fixed now; it will make updating much much easier.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Along with lack of updating, I haven't been able to do much non-school related reading. Which is just awful because I bought a bunch of books with my excess aid that I've been really wanting to read. And now they're just sitting there.... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm working this week on getting caught up in some classes and ahead in others. Hopefully by next week, I'll be ahead in all of my classes (or at least the ones where getting ahead is a possibility). Once I reach this goal, doing fun things -- like reading, knitting and blogging -- will be more possible.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-67433109435279996862010-09-02T06:07:00.000-07:002010-09-02T06:07:09.056-07:00Craftie Allie is OPEN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://craftieallie.etsy.com/"><img border="0" height="42" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/iusb_760x100.7646293.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Click the picture to go check out the beanies I currently have for sale. I"m already in the process of making/designing other things but I wanted to get some custom orders completed first.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-27554302736962952372010-08-26T09:03:00.000-07:002010-08-26T09:07:15.408-07:00Excitement!<div style="text-align: justify;">I was going to buy Mockingjay tomorrow after I got my excess aid. I went by the education department's library at my university today and look what was there, ready to be check out...by me! (I love being the first person to check out a book!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNlId3pqe45YALxt0jPCKJucXkYRmgxmOCzBeV42-1UfKRaea0VoBRDldaSXwrZ9J_ZP2mz8THInjqKtsnNqAMHelfRyD7og1V9wQrwQJfxMx62OoNbZGOf7KEMUmDlho50P-SJH3J60/s1600/105324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNlId3pqe45YALxt0jPCKJucXkYRmgxmOCzBeV42-1UfKRaea0VoBRDldaSXwrZ9J_ZP2mz8THInjqKtsnNqAMHelfRyD7og1V9wQrwQJfxMx62OoNbZGOf7KEMUmDlho50P-SJH3J60/s320/105324.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">...I'm a lot more excited that I appear, promise. Murray was trying to get my attention.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">SO! I'm off to go read now! SO EXCITED! I've been avoiding book blogs because of this book, haha.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-74442991615798479262010-08-24T06:35:00.001-07:002010-08-24T06:35:03.628-07:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus-BQUIoxRDkMnSVA5lMFmE_8JJshNFbE8lCaYXoC8KhhrGDFp9d6JriPxsgMLNwZGMzdm6SoMmciXp5YZS02e_WD3953S2v6a-sE_yn-ArYylC_eOtexYC3CBEAM95MKJxD7-gvhoRY/s320/bookcase.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I've Never Read</span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><ol><li>Pride and Prejudice :: Or really, classics in general. I love reading but I have such a hard time getting through this book and others like it. I'm under the impression I will have to audio book these classic novels someday, just so I can check them off my list.</li>
<li>1984 :: I've started this numerous times, I've just never been able to get into it. One day....</li>
<li>The Hobbit + Lord of the Rings :: Again, these are books that I would consider a Must Read for anyone who loves literature. </li>
<li>The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy :: I've read the first chapter. It's amazing, or so I've been told, but I don't see it. </li>
<li>The Vampire Chronicles :: These are books I've heard about for my entire life. I've read other work by Anne Rice and was able to get through it, but these books are just too difficult. Actually, it isn't the books that are difficult. Louis is difficult and I refuse to read the rest without reading the first. I'm currently working my way through Interview With a Vampire. Very slooowly.</li>
<li>Anything by Mark Twain :: I don't know how I've gone twenty-three years without encountering a novel, but I've somehow succeeded. Everyone else I know had to read at least something for school, but I somehow missed out on it.</li>
<li>The Fountainhead :: I include this only because I've been wanting to read a Ayn Rand book for a while now and just never had the chance. I found this one for $.50 at Goodwill once and bought it. Maybe one day I can knock this one of this list.</li>
<li>The Jungle Book :: I feel like this was something I should have read years ago. For someone who loves literature as much as I do, I've really missed out on a lot of things....</li>
<li>Memoirs of a Geisha :: I've owned this one for years. It just keeps getting moved from shelf to shelf as I move from place to place without ever being picked up.</li>
<li>Jane Eyre :: I've talked to a lot of people who do not necessarily enjoy "classics" but love this book. Maybe I should give it a shot instead of trying to jump headfirst into the classical genre.</li>
</ol>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-84596996305902547252010-08-23T20:06:00.000-07:002010-08-23T20:06:09.661-07:00Murray Monday<div style="height: 0px;">x</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've decided to make Mondays Murray Mondays, which will feature pictures of my baby and any information I would like to write about him. For the first entry, you get to see his sleepy side.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCS3BcGvz4xw9aaOMod0cDfRRBfP0VRCJCD3DLm5awYuF-b-IaRr3fRVwd8NkIwApeND9EC3chmJdjcY0gtgKPbjAUws0e05R7p0kJYFNqKKu8fx0ws_iImHgM-QhDPYRMzNQP2BNJy4/s1600/sleepymurray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCS3BcGvz4xw9aaOMod0cDfRRBfP0VRCJCD3DLm5awYuF-b-IaRr3fRVwd8NkIwApeND9EC3chmJdjcY0gtgKPbjAUws0e05R7p0kJYFNqKKu8fx0ws_iImHgM-QhDPYRMzNQP2BNJy4/s320/sleepymurray.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Today, we took a trip about 1.5 hours away to visit with my mother. She wanted to see her new granddog, plus had some things to get me and I needed to get tags for my car. So I packed up a towel, two or three toys/things for him to chew on, food and water and off we went!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Until I got on the interstate, he was incredibly annoying. I've driven with him before and he's always been rather well behaved. Today, not so much. At least while we were in town. As soon as we hit the interstate, he fell asleep on my leg and I eventually moved him to the passenger seat where he slept the rest of the trip away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Mom fell in love with him immediately, as did everyone else who was working in her office today. He's just too lovely for a person to not completely fall head over heels. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTdLGuD29tcbupt2lqbybN6qZ2OSHpN_EMen3P6rCh2gNhA8y8MLOKI1dHAw6vug6vgrXteSa2BlZGi6STk0f89HF789L37ehgk6GuBjYtto3zaGOC_MMpCUJMKaBJdgwo5bB_0Q056Q/s1600/DSCF3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTdLGuD29tcbupt2lqbybN6qZ2OSHpN_EMen3P6rCh2gNhA8y8MLOKI1dHAw6vug6vgrXteSa2BlZGi6STk0f89HF789L37ehgk6GuBjYtto3zaGOC_MMpCUJMKaBJdgwo5bB_0Q056Q/s320/DSCF3283.JPG" /></a>My mother and I grabbed lunch and ate in her office and, once our meal was completed, he fell asleep in her arms. And then he slept the rest of the way home. And then he slept all day in the house. Puppy enjoys sleeping. A lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-4574846088173883362010-08-20T09:28:00.000-07:002010-08-20T09:28:56.204-07:00Book Blogger Hop: August 20 - 23, 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: blue; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img alt="Book Blogger Hop" height="150" src="http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt34/crazybookblog/cfbmemebutton-2.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" width="150" /></span></b></span></span></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This week's question comes from </span></span></b></span><b><a href="http://libraryscatbooks.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Libraryscatbooks</span></span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">!</span></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></b></span></div></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">How many blogs do you follow?</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">On blogger, I follow 32 blogs. On LiveJournal, I follow over 40 blogs (plus probably about as many communities). On Tumblr, I follow over 90 blogs. I don't read every blog every day. In fact, I've been having issues with LiveJournal for a while now and probably have a week's worth of entries to read. I read the blogs when I have a chance. </span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I enjoy blogging, though I'm not very good at it, and I enjoy being part of a community of people (on various host sites) that also enjoy it. And I'm always looking for more book blogs to help inspire me to make this one better. </span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div><div align="left" style="color: blue;"></div><div align="left" style="color: blue;"></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-61164254863302509742010-08-18T10:14:00.000-07:002010-08-18T10:14:48.953-07:00Quick Life Update<div style="text-align: justify;">I set up a weekly schedule in regards to updating this blog, hoping to get in some form of a habit. I had planned on starting it this week but I have a little distraction....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kQme55KwqQAf_vLrXEjsfWY1QpFPZKBfElqYQHpshafbUY9ZCRazoL0k4NeiLUCphPgVyPmNwUqxoK7uy3gROf6L_OEKWoW06JTTvGs1Uq7SvJwWNPAUi80MWGrjpXQPiq5ZLPshXzY/s1600/billmurray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kQme55KwqQAf_vLrXEjsfWY1QpFPZKBfElqYQHpshafbUY9ZCRazoL0k4NeiLUCphPgVyPmNwUqxoK7uy3gROf6L_OEKWoW06JTTvGs1Uq7SvJwWNPAUi80MWGrjpXQPiq5ZLPshXzY/s320/billmurray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Meet Bill Murray, though we just call him Murray. He's a purebred pug that we were able to get for free! He's nine weeks and two days old, so he's demanding a lot of my time currently. We're busy house training, crate training and leash/collar training. He's taking his 50th nap for the day, so I'm hoping I'll be able to start my new schedule either today or tomorrow, though I may just wait until next week. Depends on how things go tomorrow. Today wasn't so bad, though Murray is not a fan of all of the rain we're currently receiving. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-72290825411339813242010-08-15T11:22:00.000-07:002010-08-20T10:09:49.956-07:00Book Blogger Hop: August 13 - 16, 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img alt="Book Blogger Hop" height="150" src="http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt34/crazybookblog/cfbmemebutton-2.png" width="150" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I've seen quite a few of my fellow book bloggers participate in this in the past. I thought this week I would give it a try!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This week's question comes from Michelle from </span><a href="http://michellesramblins.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Michelle’s Book Blog</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">!</span></div></div><div align="left"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div align="left" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">How many books do you have on your 'to be read shelf’?</span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I couldn't even begin to guess! Max has a bunch of books that I've never read, most of which I have no real interest in reading but still have intentions to give them a shot. Then I have books that I've bought over the years but have yet to pick up. But no real clue on the number, really.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The only number I can give is the total on my Good Reads account, which is 85. I'm rather certain I could match that with the books we own that I plan on reading, though.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"></div></span></div></div></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-32818273441449852702010-08-01T23:32:00.000-07:002010-08-02T00:03:45.089-07:00The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeCA5D2f6lXfyvreXzVVLNqH2KkE0I-TV08nMNN2vAQ44wT0F4qOsarhr_3FtyKY3GphFjXcRQhuGu2x5AppcfbK4Y8cUPiYL9l6IulCcrnwTpY449Y5mDhtwvN-P8bxK2B-jSdFmnxg/s1600/TST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeCA5D2f6lXfyvreXzVVLNqH2KkE0I-TV08nMNN2vAQ44wT0F4qOsarhr_3FtyKY3GphFjXcRQhuGu2x5AppcfbK4Y8cUPiYL9l6IulCcrnwTpY449Y5mDhtwvN-P8bxK2B-jSdFmnxg/s320/TST.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I finished this novel a couple of weeks ago. I've been wanting to review it but...I haven't really known what to say about it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'll start off with writing a brief synopsis, something I've been meaning to do but when I sit down to write these reviews, all I am really able to do is type out what I thought. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The novel is told from the perspective of three people who all have one person in common. This person is an artist, Robert, who is arrested for trying to stab a painting. Then there is a psychiatrist, Marlow, who ends up with Robert as a patient. Marlow is also a painter, so he has that in common with Robert. Since Robert refuses to talk, though, that's really all Marlow is able to go by. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When Marlow begins to research some of Robert's history, we are introduced to our second perspective, Kate. Kate is Robert's now ex-wife and she tells us her part of the story. Later, we are introduced to Mary, Robert's girlfriend after he leaves his wife and also a fellow painter. Together, they piece a story that is amazing and intoxicating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In between these perspectives -- or really the story about Robert -- are letters from the past. Letters that were found on Robert and is an obsession of his, fueling his obsession with painting a particular woman. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I want to write more, but honestly, the more I write, the more I'll give away. This is why I have a hard time doing synopsis: I never know when to shut up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is Kostova's second novel, the first one I've read of her's. I've started <i>The Historian</i> numerous times but could not get into her writing style. I am a sucker for historical fiction based on art history (fact or fiction), though, and was able to put my all into this. It was a rough start. I feel like her writing style never suited Marlow, whose perspective dominated the majority of the novel. When told from either Kate or Mary's point of view, though, I found the novel to be really hard to put down.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My only other real critique is that, though this novel is just shy of 600 pages, I felt shorthanded at the end. While this is ultimately the story about Robert and his obsession, there were many sub-plots that I feel were started and not developed as much as they could have been. While this is probably the best idea (too much would have take away from the main story), I almost wish there had been an epilogue of sorts to update me on those sub-plots. To give closure to those sub-plots. Or maybe this is just one of those stories where I don't want it to end.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
While hard in places, overall, I found this novel to be very exciting, captivating and interesting. It has given me more interest in reading (and actually completing) <i>The Historian</i>, which I might tackle once I finish the books I am currently reading. I would most definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, psychological fiction and novels concerning art and art history. </div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-70774974674779873592010-07-26T21:44:00.000-07:002010-07-29T21:42:17.836-07:00Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcA_3C5fBqtlP9tGO2vJ_kSTdQRCjhT9_g_f9n0iC9X4bx8KIRdLC1eZLJt_Ia905HFF_aAY6Ja1Gn2ZYhr0NcvDNpAxnCzCaJd3l0gQcKOMytigTVAbpebX3AsAvHaFXnzwwDaXcxwY/s1600/OOTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcA_3C5fBqtlP9tGO2vJ_kSTdQRCjhT9_g_f9n0iC9X4bx8KIRdLC1eZLJt_Ia905HFF_aAY6Ja1Gn2ZYhr0NcvDNpAxnCzCaJd3l0gQcKOMytigTVAbpebX3AsAvHaFXnzwwDaXcxwY/s320/OOTP.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 4 out of 5 stars</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I didn't "do" the Harry Potter books until quite recently. Within the past two years, to be precise. I tried to read the first one when I was younger but could not get into it. I regret shunning them for as long as I did. And I regret shunning the movies, as well. I know I'm a late fan and do not wish to label myself a "Harry Potter Nerd" because I feel that label belongs only to people who have been around Harry since the beginning (or at least close to it).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm a Junior Nerd.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I re-read the series (well all but two) a few months after completing it the first time around in preparation of the sixth movie, <i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i>. Later that year, for my birthday, my mother bought me the entire series and so I decided to read them again. I'm in no rush currently and tend to just pick them up when I need some light, entertaining reading.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This book was one of the two I didn't re-read my second go through so this was only my second time reading it. The first time, I loved it and flew it so quickly. This time...I was almost bored. I cannot take the whiney-ness that is Harry in this one. I didn't like it the first time around but the story was so captivating that I was able to just put that aside. This second time, though, it was all that I seemed to notice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While I didn't enjoy it that much the second time around, I do rate this one rather high on my list. Number 3 or 4 out of the 7, most definitely.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-77785902601428485252010-06-29T16:26:00.000-07:002010-06-29T16:26:21.720-07:00Top Ten TuesdayI'm part of the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/8361.College_Students_">college students geared reading group</a> on Good Reads and some of the members of the group have started a <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">book review blog</a>. This is a meme they've started and I hope to participate when I'm able to!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/features.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLiyujQliYqN7TMbaRo8T3QphpiMTNdUCM65bM5s_NoH25Xe1_UBMu2KgWrz4WVIHl6Z19KYhUdtyJMG8BW821czVQC-g7A41ghiXOy-ShP3UWrbCDkD4ujG3DmgV4Z_Jg-Xh_3DVP7fl/s320/bookcase.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"> Top Ten Books I'd Want On A Desert Island!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ol><li>Water For Elephants by Gruen :: This is a rather recent read but I seriously love it. It's one of those that I cannot wait to read again. </li>
<li>Flowers for Algernon by Keyes :: This book never ceases to amaze me (and make me cry). </li>
<li>The Thirteenth Tale by Setterfield :: Again, I only read this book for the first time earlier this year but I immediately fell in love with it. It's one that I feel I need to put myself back into and get a good feel of the story and see what all I've missed.</li>
<li>The Lady and the Unicorn by Chevalier :: I've come to the conclusion that Chevalier is my favorite author. She is the only writer whose work I've read completely (her newest one is my upcoming book club pick and I'm incredibly excited to read it even though her last book didn't really impress me as much as I would like). There's just something about her writing style that sinks me in. This was my first book of hers and it's always remained my favorite.</li>
<li>Alice I Have Been by Benjamin :: I need at least one book I've yet to read on here, I think.</li>
<li>The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas :: This has been my favorite book since high school, though I've only read the abridged. I'm hoping to tackle the unabridged some time this year.</li>
<li>Shadow of the Wind by Zafon :: Again, another book I've only discovered this year but it's another that I really want to read again and feel out completely.</li>
<li>The Birth of Venus by Dunant :: A book I read in high school and loved. I'm really big on stories that have something to do with art and/or artists.</li>
<li>The Crimson Petal and the White by Faber :: It took me forever to finally sit down and tackle this book. But it was a wonderful experience and I would love to read it again some time.</li>
<li>The Entire Harry Potter Series by Rowling :: Cheating? Oh, darn. Then I'd randomly pick either the Half-Blood Prince or The Deathly Hallows</li>
</ol>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-11336048288595267562010-06-16T21:43:00.000-07:002010-07-26T21:56:40.665-07:00Julie and Julia by Julie Powell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1RM6FUdUKv7ytavMpHEc3vbIiURGMkL9Pqe37Qowq0xkC9hk7HvHiZcglSJ8MVOV6bXuBtRikfqFqRLjU87J5NGlkSLg3480Z0GlXkPnYsozmJFN5m4yShhZVGPtuR4G6zTuXjntLPY/s1600/JAJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1RM6FUdUKv7ytavMpHEc3vbIiURGMkL9Pqe37Qowq0xkC9hk7HvHiZcglSJ8MVOV6bXuBtRikfqFqRLjU87J5NGlkSLg3480Z0GlXkPnYsozmJFN5m4yShhZVGPtuR4G6zTuXjntLPY/s320/JAJ.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 3 out of 5 stars</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a book that one is led to believe is solely about a project taken on by the author, Julie Powell. But once the novel begins, the reader is taken on a ride a whole lot farther than he or she probably wants to go.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Julie is about to turn 30 and feeling like she hasn't accomplished much -- if anything -- in her life. And so she sets up this project: In one year's time, she is going to complete the 524 recipes written out by Julia Child in her first cookbook, <i>Mastering The Art of French Cooking</i>. What was originally started out as a blog became a book which then became a movie. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had no interest in reading the book or viewing this movie until earlier this year. The movie kept coming up in conversations with friends and teachers and when I learned it was to be a future book club read, I went ahead and watched the movie via Netflix when I had nothing better to do.<br />
<br />
The movie was better. And the only reason this truly bothers me is because this book had such great potential!<br />
<br />
The parts that were strictly Project related were great. I devoured those parts, loving to read about the recipe as Julia has written while also reading about the recipe as Julie perceived and performed it. The mishaps, the challenges, the wins, the losses. All of that was wonderfully interesting. <br />
<br />
The other parts, though, those I could have dealt without. The parts about her family, the parts about her job, the parts about her friends: the one deciding whether or not it was okay to have an affair, the one deciding whether or not she wanted a divorce, the friend who took for-effin'-ever to pick up a couch.<br />
<br />
Seriously: Did not care for and still do not care for. Maybe these parts helped in being able to know who was who later when friends started to come over to eat closer to the end of the project. This is the only reason I can account for telling us their lives. I felt as if I were peaking in on things I had no part of.<br />
<br />
Aside from those parts, I found this book enjoyable. Some days her writing style irked me, and I honestly have no idea if this is related to her actual writing style or my mood for that day. And reading the book really added an aspect to the movie for me and made me like it more. <br />
<br />
I want to give this book 2 stars but I give it the extra one for the chapter about the lobster (my favorite chapter, hands down) and the last couple of chapters. They really saved the book in my eyes.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-21402992312200374462010-06-14T11:38:00.000-07:002010-07-26T21:55:42.987-07:00The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYNf29oK9qgqa5A4r4FaAEldbOni4ZrnXf5JmrhpMC6vp476eANWazldpFdwtW5bsV7N_kXrSEbgF9_abO2lQW3s16rN7qc7kZ4pk5nYdb8x9Ysk_wYpNo12l6yE0fAlwvJbDfeIsszg/s1600/TOBG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYNf29oK9qgqa5A4r4FaAEldbOni4ZrnXf5JmrhpMC6vp476eANWazldpFdwtW5bsV7N_kXrSEbgF9_abO2lQW3s16rN7qc7kZ4pk5nYdb8x9Ysk_wYpNo12l6yE0fAlwvJbDfeIsszg/s320/TOBG.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="reviewTextContainer90647123"> <span class="reviewText" id="freeTextreview90647123"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="reviewTextContainer90647123"><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextreview90647123"><b>Rating: 4 out of 5 stars</b> </span></span></div><br />
<span id="reviewTextContainer90647123"><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextreview90647123">I loved this book, though I didn't think I would. The writing is captivating and intriguing, leaving me to wonder about the characters even when the book was not in hand. <br />
<br />
If I were a history buff, I would hate this, I totally see that. I went to Wikipedia and read through the historical inaccuracies and there are quite a few and all a big deal to the story. But I wasn't reading this book to learn about history. I realize that most historical fiction books take a small detail and just go with it. Yes, they do research but most authors will strictly stay away from the books whose findings would go against the story they would want to write. <br />
<br />
As I said, I wasn't researching history: I was interested in the story Gregory concocted. <br />
<br />
I could have used 50 more pages, though. I see why it ended the way it did and I actually enjoyed that. At the same time, though, I was interested in (fictional) Mary's story. I wanted to read more about her life after this last event. I wanted to read about them going back to their home, children in tow, and how their life was. I found (fictional) Mary to be a wonderful character and fell in love with her without even realizing it. <br />
<br />
Overall, inaccuracies aside, I found this book to be interesting, captivating and kinda trashy all in one. The characters sprang up from the pages for me, vivid in my mind. It's the day after I completed the novel and I still see them every now and then. It was an addicting story and I'm happy to have read it. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="reviewTextContainer90647123"><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextreview90647123">Whether or not I'll read any of her other books, though, I cannot decide. I did find one of her other books at a used bookstore that I'm planning on going back to today. I have a handful of books from school I'd like to get rid of and they give store credit when books are brought in. I'm sure I'll come home a few more books richer and will hopefully have a place for said books.</span></span>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-1348030094585023192010-06-14T11:18:00.000-07:002010-06-14T11:35:01.595-07:00And we're back on the air!School is out* and I am ready to jump back on the wagon, finally! I've restarted my <a href="http://allielujah101.blogspot.com/">101 in 1001 challenge </a>with a <a href="http://allielujah101.blogspot.com/2010/06/list.html">brand new list</a>. This list features some reading goals, one of them being to review every book I read while doing this challenge. I'm not allowed to start another book until the review is written. This is pretty much the only way I can get this done.<br />
<br />
I finished my first book for this challenge and have already written the review on my <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3093382">Good Reads account</a>. I'm about to copy/paste plus maybe add a few things here. I'm just happy to say that this challenge...it is back <b>on!</b><br />
<br />
I still have quite a few books I have not reviewed. I have every intention of writing at least a couple of sentences on each of those books with a rating. I think I'm in the right mentality now to do this, plus I won't allow myself to read more until I get this caught up. I'll be on campus all day tomorrow; I plan on doing it there.<b> </b><br />
<br />
I'm hoping this journey will start going well. I need to prove to myself that I can stick to something and see it through....<br />
<br />
*It's not <i>really</i> out for me. I am taking an online physics class that takes up more time than I would like but that is beside the pointAlliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-91782302266423280252010-02-13T17:22:00.000-08:002010-07-26T21:56:48.370-07:00Paper Towns by John Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://rgr-static1.tangentlabs.co.uk/images/bau/97801424/9780142414934/0/0/plain/paper-towns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://rgr-static1.tangentlabs.co.uk/images/bau/97801424/9780142414934/0/0/plain/paper-towns.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating: 3 out of 5 stars</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a novel about two teens, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen and Margo Roth Spiegelman. They've known each other since they were children and Q is rather in love with this Margo who he has known for so long, yet knows nothing about. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although neighbors and almost lifetime aquaintances, Q and Margo never really hung out. Until one night when Margo appears at Q's window and takes him on a night of adventure full of revenge that Q will never forget. Upon parting each other, Q is left with the hope that they can finally be real friends. But the next day, Margo isn't at school. Or the next. Or the next. Margo disappearing was not anything new -- she was a very adventurous person who has many stories of just leaving. But her disappearance left Q uneasy. Why would she spend that night with him and not tell him she planned on leaving? Although she was adventerous, she didn't just up and leave. She made plans. She always leaves a trail.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This time, she left a trail for Q to follow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Q enrolls his friends Radar and Ben and together, they try to piece together the clues. Q believes that Margo wanted to be found especially by him. And this thought left him with so much hope. So much hope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was my first book by John Green though I've heard good things about his other novel, <i>Looking for Alaska</i> (review soon). I found this to be incredibly interesting and it kept me captivated page after page. It was a very fast read and I'm rather certain I will read it again in the future -- and I'm not usually one to re-read books.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-31640160605087756602010-02-13T17:04:00.000-08:002010-07-26T21:56:23.170-07:00The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Lovely_Bones_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Lovely_Bones_cover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 3 out of 5 stars</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a story about Susie Salmon, a 14 year old girl who one day takes a short cut home only to be lured into a secret place (built by a neighbor), raped and then murdered. This is what we learn in the beginning. The rest of the novel shows us what happens after her death -- in her "life" and those of hers around here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Susie is stuck in what is coined as the "inbetween", coined justly due to the fact that it is in between earth and heaven. Some of the novel tells us what happens to Susie while in the inbetween. She describes the world in which she now lives, the people she meets, how she is able to get whatever she could ever want. The other part is informing us what happens to her friends and to her family after her passing. She even keeps us updated on the life of her killer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was an amazingly touching and moving story. When I first started it, I found myself not wanting to put it down. But (without discussing specific events) I lost interest. I found myself forcing my way through some of the chapters. Some of the things were just too...odd to be believed. Some of the things were just too much to read. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Overall, though, I found the story to be interesting, just too long. Too much padding almost yet not enough information at the exact same time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did go see the movie directed by Peter Jackson. And I must say I did not find it enjoyable. He made quite a few changes -- understandably -- but I found it not making sense. And a lot of the relationships that developed that were such a big deal in the novel were either nonexistent or barely touched upon. And honestly, the parts about the building relationships were what I found so interesting.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-34311944811039759992010-02-13T16:50:00.000-08:002010-07-26T21:55:54.684-07:00Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/DeadUntilDark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/DeadUntilDark.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 2 out of 5 stars</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the first installment of the book series the HBO television series "True Blood" is based upon. The first book introduces us to Sookie Stackhouse, a southern girl with what she coins a "disability". Sookie lives in a Bon Temps, Louisiana in a time where vampires have finally decided to "come out of the coffin". When Sookie finally meets (and saves) a vampire, Bill, her entire world begins to change. Vampires. Murder. Mystery. What isn't there to enjoy?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quite a bit, actually.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I watched the first season and the majority of the second season of "True Blood" long before I picked up this novel. I started reading it once in Books-a-Million but found the writing style to be horrendous and lost interest in it. Though, seeing the writing style, it made me realize that the television show -- which also has horrendous writing -- didn't butcher the novel(s) as I had originally thought.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once you look past the writing, whether in book or novel form, the story is at least interesting. The show gets rather ridiculous fast, which makes me wonder if I'll ever bother with the rest of the written series, but it sucks you in completely. This is a vampire soap opera -- that's the best way I can explain it.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-89404496929862472402010-02-11T12:01:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:02:31.926-08:00A Note<div style="text-align: justify;">I've completed 7 books thus far this year but have no reviews to show for it. This is my fault; I let school get in the way of this project. And I fear now that I've let too much time pass to give good reviews to the books I've read. I have a couple handwritten that I will type up soon. The others will remain review-less.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm going to get on the ball with this, though, and make sure I at least write a review out by hand the day of completion. I finished a novel this morning. I plan on working on the review after I knock out an hour or two of homework.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think I'm just nervous for I've never written a book review before. And when I'm nervous or uncertain about something -- especially a new adventure, like this -- I tend to let other things take its place of importance. I won't be doing that anymore, though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Saturday, I will have reviews posted. Or this blog (and therefore goal) is just pointless.</div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-3015540341920223422010-01-06T13:21:00.001-08:002010-02-13T17:30:39.797-08:002010 Reading Challenge: 12 TBR BooksI finally made a <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3093382">Good Reads account</a> and joined the group<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/12544.The_Book_Addicts_"> The Book Addicts</a>. They have a challenge of reading 12 books of your "to be read" list during 2010. I joined the group just for this challenge; I really need to start ticking away this TBR list. The following is my list of books I plan on reading. Click the links to read reviews!<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Note: The books on this list will appear also on the full list <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-reading-challenge-read-50-books.html">here</a>. They will not be part of any other reading challenges I might partake in.</span><br />
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01. <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/02/lovely-bones-by-alice-sebold.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Lovely Bones</span> by Alice Sebold</a> <b>Completed on: January 19, 2010</b><br />
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02. <span style="font-style: italic;">A Lion Among Men</span> by Gregory Maguire<br />
03. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Green Mile</span> by Stephen King<br />
04. <span style="font-style: italic;">Anna Karenina</span> by Leo Tolstoy<br />
05. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Book Thief</span> by Markus Zusak<br />
06. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Labyrinth</span> by Catherynne M. Valente<br />
07. <span style="font-style: italic;">Many Lives Of Tom Waits</span> by Patrick Humphries<br />
08. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Great Gatsby</span> by F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />
09. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Picture of Dorian Gray</span> by Oscar Wilde<br />
10. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lady Windermere's Fan</span> by Oscar Wilde<br />
11. <span style="font-style: italic;">In the Company of the Courtesan</span> by Sarah Dunant<br />
12. <span style="font-style: italic;">Eat, Pray, Love</span> by Elizabeth GilbertAlliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-15500168772451904822010-01-06T13:14:00.000-08:002010-08-22T22:57:25.844-07:002010 Reading Challenge: A - ZIn 2009 I took on the<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> <a href="http://atozchallenge.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-rules.html">A-Z Reading Challenge</a></span>. I got about half of the letters completed. I find it such an interesting challenge, I want to challenge myself again this year! The following is the challenge I have chosen and the books I have read. Click the links to read the reviews!<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Note: The books on this list will appear also on the full list <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-reading-challenge-read-50-books.html">here</a>. They will not be part of any other reading challenges I might partake in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Option B: Read titles A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.</span><br />
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A :: <i>Addition</i> by Toni Jordan<br />
B :: <i>Beloved </i>by Toni Morrison<br />
C ::<br />
D :: <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/02/dead-until-dark-by-charlaine-harris.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dead Until Dark </span>by Charlaine Harris</a><br />
E ::<br />
F :: <i>The Fantastic Mr. Fox</i> by Roald Dahl<br />
G :: <i>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo</i> by Stieg Larrson<br />
H :: <i>The Hunger Games </i>by Suzanne Collins<br />
I :: <i>Into the Wild</i> by Jon Krakauer<br />
J :: <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/06/julie-and-julia-by-julie-powell.html"><i>Julie and Julia</i> by Julie Powell</a><br />
K ::<br />
L :: <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/02/lovely-bones-by-alice-sebold.html"><i>The Lovely Bones</i> by Alice Sebold</a><br />
M ::<br />
N ::<br />
O :: <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/06/other-boleyn-girl-by-philippa-gregory.html"><i>The Other Boleyn Girl</i> by Philippa Gregory</a><br />
P :: <a href="http://allielujahreads.blogspot.com/2010/02/paper-towns-by-john-green.html"><i>Paper Town</i>s by John Green</a><br />
Q ::<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">R ::</div>S :: <i>The Shadow of the Wind </i>by Carlos Ruiz Zafon<br />
T :: <i>The Thirteenth Tale</i> by Diane Setterfield<br />
U ::<br />
V ::<br />
W :: <i>Water for Elephants </i>by Sara Gruen<br />
X ::<br />
Y ::<br />
Z ::Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578192096438821484.post-45590367623360127792009-11-17T18:06:00.000-08:002009-11-17T18:11:32.585-08:00IntroductionI have always been a huge fan of the written word. I lost interest in reading, though, a few years ago when it became hard for me to get my hands on new books. I've been making reading goals for myself over the past couple of years, though, and am finally back into the point I used to be.<br /><br />I will not state that I read more than a lot of people, but I have learned I read more than the average person. Because I devour so much, I have a hard time keeping up with what I have read. I've started keeping lists online that I just keep updating, showing what I have read for that specific year. I've decided to now turn that up a notch.<br /><br />This journal will feature reading lists, reading goals and book reviews as I finish books. I have a rather diverse taste and will gladly take any suggestions anyone passing by might have for me.<br /><br />I am currently working my way through three books (yes, I'm one of those people), so the first review will be when one of those will be completed, most likely within the next week. I wanted to go ahead and get the introduction out of the way.<br /><br />I've never reviewed a book before; hopefully this will be a fun and interesting experience.Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06352863005058212121noreply@blogger.com0