tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62832987093818884692024-03-13T23:52:54.063-07:00Put Your Soul on Paperblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-44062208007744317752014-01-01T20:08:00.002-08:002014-01-01T20:08:47.167-08:002013: A Year in Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Book of the Year</b></div>
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<i>The Catcher in the Rye</i></div>
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By J.D. Salinger</div>
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This book was on the summer reading list for AP English, and I'm really glad it was. It's so full of symbolism, gorgeous writing, and insight into human nature, and I know that it's one of those books that will stay with me for the rest of my life. </div>
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<b>Author of the Year</b></div>
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<a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/01/26/John%20Green_custom-912a0be92914ab07c29e84c0d30a871a90afa9ab-s6-c30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/01/26/John%20Green_custom-912a0be92914ab07c29e84c0d30a871a90afa9ab-s6-c30.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
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John Green</div>
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I discovered John Green this past spring when I read <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i>, which is without question one of the best books I have ever read. I immediately fell in love with his writing and his video blogs. He was the author I chose to research for my final project in English, and since then I've read two more of his books, <i>An Abundance of Katherines</i> and <i>Paper Towns.</i> All things considered, he was the obvious choice for author of the year. </div>
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<b>Best Classic</b></div>
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<i>The Great Gatsby</i></div>
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By F. Scott Fitzgerald</div>
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We read this book in English class at the end of last year, and I'd been dying to read it since the beginning of the school year. It did not disappoint. This is a beautifully written novel that I could read over and over again, and by far the best classic I read this year. </div>
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<b>Best Collection of Short Stories</b></div>
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<i>The Curiosities</i></div>
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By Maggie Steifvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff</div>
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This was a lovely and strange collection of short stories that fully engaged my imagination. The authors' notes on the stories showed a lot about the process of creating them, too, and overall, it was a delightful read. </div>
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<b>Best Dystopian</b></div>
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<i>The Road</i></div>
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By Cormac McCarthy</div>
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This was another book on our AP English summer reading list, and it was without a question the best dystopian I read this year. It was bleak, creepy, and terrifying, and I loved every second of it.</div>
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<b>Best Fantasy</b></div>
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<i>Clockwork Princess</i></div>
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By Cassandra Clare</div>
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I'd been waiting for the last book in The Infernal Devices series ever since reading Clockwork Prince two Christmases ago, and it did not disappoint. The characters were fantastic as always, the writing made me laugh and cry, and I simply could not put it down.</div>
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<b>Best Historical Fiction</b></div>
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<i>Code Name Verity</i></div>
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By Elizabeth Wein</div>
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Words cannot even describe this book. It was beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and overall just a gorgeous story. Not only the best historical fiction of the year, but one of the best books I've ever read. </div>
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<b>Best Thriller/Suspense</b></div>
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<i>Confessions of a Murder Suspect</i></div>
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By James Patterson</div>
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This book was original, fast-paced, and impossible to put down - everything needed to make it the best thriller/suspense I read in 2013. I just found out there's a sequel, and I can't wait to read it - it might be holding this title at the end of 2014.</div>
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<b>Best Realistic YA Fiction</b></div>
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<a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/bakertaylor/covers/t/the-fault-in-our-stars/9780525478812_custom-7eb6cc16a8a3f2266865895e1718ac9e9d6232e0-s6-c30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/bakertaylor/covers/t/the-fault-in-our-stars/9780525478812_custom-7eb6cc16a8a3f2266865895e1718ac9e9d6232e0-s6-c30.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<i>The Fault in Our Stars</i></div>
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By John Green</div>
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If you've read this book, I don't need to explain. If you haven't, I'll tell you what I tell everyone who hasn't read this book: read it. Immediately. It will make you cry, but it will be one of the most unforgettable books ever. </div>
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That's it for this year. I've read some fantastic novels and discovered some great authors this year, and I can't wait to see what lovely bookish discoveries 2014 brings. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
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blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-74872020893072191882013-07-16T20:39:00.000-07:002013-07-16T20:39:04.112-07:00The Reading Room (37)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading or planning to read, posted on Tuesdays.<br />
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This past week, I went to a summer writer's workshop at Susquehanna University (it was amazing in every way), and on the last day, the professor teaching my class took us down to a used book store in town. He actually bought two or three books for each of us, then let us browse for whatever else we wanted to get ourselves. I came back with...well, quite a haul. And all for less than twenty dollars!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9nyazby82MA/UeYQIyFShOI/AAAAAAAAA-k/tvImtGojqBs/s1600/bookhaul.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9nyazby82MA/UeYQIyFShOI/AAAAAAAAA-k/tvImtGojqBs/s320/bookhaul.png" width="240" /></a>From top to bottom:<br />
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1. <i>The Joy Luck Club</i> by Amy Tan (because I've wanted to read it forever)<br />
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2. <i>The Killer Angels</i> by Michael Shaara (because my roommate said it was fantastic and I love historical fiction.)<br />
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3. <i>The Liar's Club</i> by Mary Karr (one of the books Tom, the writing professor, bought for me.)<br />
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4. <i>The Lost World and Other Stories </i>by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (I feel as though this one doesn't need any explanations. I will say, however, that my friend Helen found this for me and I was so grateful that I gave her the last copy the store had of <i>No Country for Old Men</i>, which I'd been planning to buy.)<br />
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5. <i>The Kite Runner</i> by Khaled Hosseini (Another one of Tom's recommendations.)<br />
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6. <i>The Beautiful and the Damned</i> by F. Scott Fitzgerald (It was Fitzgerald for two dollars, all because someone underlined a few passages. No way to pass up that.)<br />
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7. <i>Tales of the Jazz Age</i> by F. Scott Fitzgerald (This one was a little more expensive, but it was the most beautiful edition I've ever seen of this book.)<br />
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8. <i>Anna Karenina </i>by Leo Tolstoy (I've wanted to read this one for awhile, too.)<br />
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9. <i>Pilgrim at Tinker Creek</i> by Annie Dillard (The other book Tom bought)<br />
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10. <i>The Black Tulip</i> by Alexandre Dumas ("Hey, isn't this book by the guy who wrote <i>The Count of Monte Cristo</i>?" someone said, and those words are basically how you summon me. I had to buy it.)<br />
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~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-13743047666548431952013-07-02T21:47:00.003-07:002013-07-02T21:47:58.305-07:00The Reading Room (36)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading and planning to read, and was inspired by On MyShelf at the blog All By Myshelf.<br />
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So on Friday I got up at the revoltingly early hour of quarter to six in the morning in order to drive two and a half hours for a college open house that started at nine thirty. But it ended up being worth it in the end, not just because I enjoyed the visit, but because we stopped in the town's bookstore before driving home, and I picked up three new books.<br />
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<i>An Abundance of Katherines</i> by John Green was on display on the front counter, and I grabbed it without hesitation. I finished it yesterday, and it was absolutely fantastic, which I suppose is a given, considering that it's John Green. I also grabbed <i>City of Bones</i> by Cassandra Clare, the first book in the Mortal Instruments series; I loved The Infernal Devices and have been wanting to start this series for awhile now, especially with the movie coming out in August, but <i>I have not been able to find a copy of the first book at any library anywhere for months.</i> So when I saw it, I couldn't pass it up.<br />
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And finally, I bought Sarah Dessen's newest book, <i>The Moon and More</i> - another obvious purcha<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">se. One of my friends introduced me to Sarah Dessen several years ago by recommending </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i>Just Listen </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i>Lock and Key</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">, both of which I loved. I now own most of her books and have read all of them - except the new one, which I've been dying to get my hands on. I can't wait to start reading it. Sarah Dessen's novels are always perfect summer reads.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">~blackandwhitedreamer</span></div>
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<br />blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-20331064284904086162013-06-25T20:53:00.000-07:002013-06-25T20:53:07.716-07:00The Reading Room (35)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading and planning to read, and is posted on Tuesdays.<br />
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Let this be a warning to all you bookworms out there: don't be like me and volunteer at a library, even if it seems like a good idea for your required project/volunteer hours for school. Why? Because you spend a whole lot of time putting other people's books away and helping other people find things and entertaining small children and not a lot of time finding and reading books for yourself.<br />
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Still, I managed to make a trip down on Friday and pick up a few books. The first thing that caught my eye was <i>Spilling Ink</i> by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter, which I'm partway through and is one of the best and most inspiring books about fiction writing that I've ever read. I also grabbed <i>Stealing Air</i> by Trent Reedy, which I finished Sunday and was a good way to spend the afternoon, though not the best book I've ever read, and <i>The Innocents</i>, by Lili Peloquin, which I started tonight and can't put down. (Really - I had to pry myself away just to write this blog post.)<br />
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Other than that, not much bookish news; I have some birthday money that's just begging to be spent on a Barnes & Noble order, though, so hopefully I'll have some more updates next week. I'll also probably have started on the summer reading list for AP English by then, so be prepared for either gushing or complaining about <i>The Catcher in the Rye. </i><br />
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~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-89399431135567324932013-06-25T20:44:00.001-07:002013-06-25T20:44:23.129-07:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish.</a> A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers post their top ten in the category.<br />
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<b><u>Top Ten Books I've Read So Far in 2013</u></b></div>
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<b>10. <i>My Antonia</i></b></div>
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<b>By Willa Cather</b></div>
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We read this book for English class during the middle of the year, and I really enjoyed it. The image and description were beautiful - the setting was described with such detail, and it really brought the book to life and made you feel like you were right there with the characters.</div>
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<b>9. <i>The Eternal Ones</i></b></div>
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<b>By Kirsten Miller</b></div>
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I love everything Kirsten Miller does, and this book was no exception. It was beautifully written, haunting, strange, thrilling, and dangerous. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and I would definitely recommend this one. </div>
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<b>8. <i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice</i></b></div>
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<b>By Laurie R. King</b></div>
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As a devoted [i.e., obsessed] fan of Sherlock Holmes, I'm always eager to check out an adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, but I also spend a lot of time comparing it to the originals - except in this case, where I was too swept up in the story to be critical. It was a flawless version of the well-known detective and a fantastic read. </div>
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<b>7. <i>Clockwork Princess</i></b></div>
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<b>By Cassandra Clare</b></div>
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I had been waiting for this book ever since I finished <i>Clockwork Prince</i> back in January of 2012, and it did not disappoint. This book was emotional, suspenseful, superbly written and impossible to put down. I bought it a few days after it came out and carried it everywhere with me until I had finished it. <i>It was just so good.</i></div>
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<b>6. <i>The Curiosities</i></b></div>
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<b>By Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff</b></div>
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The best and most unique and creative collection of short stories I've read in a long time - possibly ever. Every single page was filled with the wonderful and strange, as well as the author's hilarious and insightful comments. If you haven't read it, you need to. </div>
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<b>5. <i>The Help</i></b></div>
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<b>By Kathryn Stockett</b></div>
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This is not one of those books that you read only to find out it doesn't live up to all the hype. It's one of those books you read and then go out and recommend to everyone you know because it's so powerful and there's so much truth in it. </div>
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<b>4. <i>It's Kind of a Funny Story</i></b></div>
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<b>By Ned Vizzini</b></div>
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Funny, sad, and heartwarming all at once. It makes you think, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry - all of which is pretty impressive for a novel that takes place over such a short period of time, and in a mental hospital. Every sentence is insightful and perfectly paced, and it comes together to make one fantastic story.</div>
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<b>3. <i>The Great Gatsby</i></b></div>
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<b>By F. Scott Fitzgerald</b></div>
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Another one we read for English class that I completely and wholeheartedly fell in love with. The language, the characters, the symbols, the setting - it all blew me away. Much like <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, this is one of those books that I could reread and analyze for the rest of my life, and I can't really remember what my life was like before I read it.</div>
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<b>2. <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i></b></div>
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<b>By John Green</b></div>
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Because with the wise and hilarious John Green (http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers) creating lines like "You gave me forever within the numbered days," and "What a slut time is. She screws everybody" and "It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you"...well, how could it not be at least number 2?</div>
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<b>1. <i>Code Name Verity</i></b></div>
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<b>By Elizabeth Wein </b></div>
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Any attempt to describe this book would spoil the ending, make me cry, and still would not do it justice. I'll just toss out a friendly reminder that it beat <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> and leave it at that. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
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blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-45352669361670907532013-06-04T20:12:00.000-07:002013-06-04T20:12:34.970-07:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers share their top ten in the category.<br />
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<b><u>Top Ten Books Featuring Travel</u></b></div>
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<b>10. <i>Across the Universe</i></b></div>
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<b>By Beth Revis</b></div>
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You can't travel much farther than an entirely new world. Though this book didn't quite live up to me expectations for it, I still really enjoyed it. The complex difficulties of life on an isolated ship on a journey that spans hundreds of years were fascinating to read about, and I loved the characters. </div>
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<b>9. <i>Uncommon Criminals</i></b></div>
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<b>By Ally Carter</b></div>
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The second book in the Heist Society series was just as amazing as the first and had the characters traveling to interesting locations all over the globe. </div>
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<b>8. <i>13 Treasures</i></b></div>
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<b>By Michele Harrison</b></div>
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Tania's grandmother's house is the kind of place I'd want to visit every summer - old, beautiful, mysterious, and filled with fairies and magic. I usually reread these books over the summer, because they provide a fantastic escape from normal life. </div>
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<b>7. <i>Pegasus</i></b></div>
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<b>By Robin McKinley</b></div>
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Sylvaniiel's journey into the Pegasus country was one of the most well-written, beautifully described, magical stories I have ever read. I loved the whole new world she was exposed to and the wonders she experienced.</div>
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<b>6. <i>The Tiger's Wife</i></b></div>
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<b>By Tea Obreht</b></div>
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I loved all the different settings in this book. The entire world was so lifelike, and the journeys described in it were both fantastic and relatable. It remains one of my favorite books, and the way you feel as if you're traveling through the story with the characters is one of the main reasons. </div>
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<b>5. <i>The Thief</i></b></div>
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<b>By Megan Whalen Turner</b></div>
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There's not much to say about this book other than the fact that I just really loved it. The journey, the myths, the stories - it was all so fun to read about, and perfectly paced. </div>
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<b>4. <i>Along for the Ride</i></b></div>
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<b>By Sarah Dessen</b></div>
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This is still my favorite of Sarah Dessen's books and the perfect summer read. Auden is exposed to not only a new location but new experiences, new people, and a new way of thinking and living her life, and all of it contributes equally to the changes she goes through. If it weren't for the travel in this book, it wouldn't be nearly as compelling or lovable. </div>
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<b>3. <i>The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</i></b></div>
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<b>By Douglas Adams</b></div>
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I feel that I don't gush about this book nearly enough compared to other things I gush about (i.e., Maggie Stiefvater, Sherlock Holmes, The Book Thief.) It's a hilarious whirlwind of adventure, and all you can do is hang on tight, enjoy the ride, try not to think too much about what's actually going on and make sure you know where your towel is. </div>
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<b>2. <i>Code Name Verity</i></b></div>
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<b>By Elizabeth Wein</b></div>
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This book! I cannot even find the words to describe this book. Maddie and Queenie's journey into enemy territory and the incredible way they handle being stranded far from home is remarkable, and their friendship more remarkable still. I would try to say more, but it wouldn't do the book justice. You'll just have to read it yourself. </div>
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<b>1. <i>The Hobbit</i></b></div>
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<b>By J.R.R. Tolkien</b></div>
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Obvious choice for number one on the list is obvious. The Hobbit contains one of the most iconic journeys of all time, and it's probably one of my favorite stories in existence. I've reread it at least four times, and am able to recall the plot with significant detail purely from memory. It's a fantastic book, and it would take a lot to knock it out of the number one spot. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-14475228220780213722013-05-30T12:14:00.004-07:002013-05-30T12:14:55.346-07:00I do still exist!No, the giant pile of homework and crazy end-of-the-year stuff didn't eat me alive, though at times it felt like it was going to. I'm terribly sorry to anyone who follows me for the lack of blog posts and the general decrease in the quality of my blog. It's something I definitely want to fix, so I'll get back to my regular posting schedule soon, and hopefully try to add in some extra posts to make up for it. If you have any suggestions for how I could improve my blog, be sure to let me know. I welcome any and all suggestions!<br />
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~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-3391274949298631252013-04-02T17:51:00.000-07:002013-04-02T17:51:00.007-07:00The Reading Room (34)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhVQAGXWD_Q/UPd3cjpzMCI/AAAAAAAAA6o/f1dw840gei8/s320/lunapic_131976435017439_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhVQAGXWD_Q/UPd3cjpzMCI/AAAAAAAAA6o/f1dw840gei8/s320/lunapic_131976435017439_6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading or planning to read. It was inspired by the feature On Myshelf at the blog <a href="http://blogbymyshelf.com/">All By Myshelf</a>, and is posted on Tuesdays.<br />
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I ended up with quite a significant book haul this week, and I can't wait to read them all. Yesterday I was still off school for Easter break, so I made a trip to the bookstore, hoping to find <i>Clockwork Princess</i> by Cassandra Clare, which I've been dying to read for months. I saw it and immediately snatched it up, barely managing not to explode from excitement. I cannot <i>wait</i> to find out what happens and how it ends - the suspense has been driving me insane. While I was there, I also came across <i>Wildwood</i> by Colin Meloy. It had an awesome cover, the synopsis intrigued me, and it was only eight dollars, so I picked that up, too. Both books are sitting happily on my bookshelves, which I reorganized on Sunday.<br />
<a href="http://harringtonlc.org/houstonms/files/2012/08/close-to-famous-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://harringtonlc.org/houstonms/files/2012/08/close-to-famous-cover.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
Then, my mom made a trip to the library in search of something by Jane Austen (she's going through a bit of a phase) and to pick up <i>The Help</i> for my grandmother. Of course, I couldn't resist checking out a few books. I hadn't been there in awhile, so after looking over some of the new titles, I finally settled on <i>The Forest of Hands and Teeth</i> by Carrie Ryan, <i>Confessions of a Murder Suspect</i> by James Patterson, and <i>Close to Famous</i> by Joan Bauer. All of them look really good. I'm pretty well-supplied with books for the next week, so hopefully some reviews will be showing up on the blog.blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-12736504624584803032013-04-01T22:36:00.001-07:002013-04-01T22:36:36.967-07:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish.</a> A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers share their top ten in the category.<br />
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<b>Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character</b></div>
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I had <i>way</i> too much fun with this topic. I mean, we all know that book boys are just better. My list was really lengthy, and it was extremely difficult to cut down - I felt so bad whenever I had to remove someone from the list. (Finnick, Kishan, Sam, and St. Clair: I'm sorry. I love you guys too.) Anyway, here are my top ten literary loves. </div>
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<b>10. Richard Gansey</b></div>
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<b><i>The Raven Boys</i> by Maggie Stiefvater</b></div>
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I knew going into <i>The Raven Boys</i> that all four of the guys were going to be swoon-worthy, and I wasn't disappointed. I loved Gansey - he was such an interesting and complex character. I mean, he's attractive, and he's rich, and he has a really fantastic car. But there's a lot more to him than that, and that's what really makes you fall in love with him.</div>
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<b>9. W.W. Hale </b></div>
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<b><i>Heist Society</i> by Ally Carter</b></div>
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Hale is basically perfect. I love his name, I love the way he cares for Kat and his loyalty to her and her family. He's such a great character in the books - his perfection would be so annoying if it weren't so...well, perfect.</div>
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<b>8. Astley</b></div>
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<b><i>Need</i> by Carrie Jones</b></div>
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I see no issues with being pixie-kissed by this guy. He's so different from all the other pixies - much less frightening, much nicer. Much cuter...sorry, digressing. I haven't read <i>Endure</i>, yet, so I'm not sure what goes down with the whole Zara-Astley-Nick situation (it's not going to be pretty, I can tell you that), but I don't think it would change my adoration for Astley. This isn't about who I think would be best with Zara, this is about Astley being irresistible.</div>
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<b>7. Gale Hawthorne</b></div>
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<b><i>The Hunger Games</i> by Suzanne Collins</b></div>
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Let me start by saying that I love Peeta. Really, I do. I just...happen to love Gale slightly more. I loved him as a character from the very beginning of the book, and he just got better and better throughout Catching Fire. (We're not going to talk about the travesty that was Mockingjay.) He's willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family, and Katniss and her family; he's ready to stand up for what he believes in. He's not afraid to fight for what he wants. He uses a bow and arrow and hunts. I mean, it's not really fair to make Peeta compete against someone who is basically a walking embodiment of things I find attractive.</div>
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<b>6. Jay Gatsby</b></div>
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<b><i>The Great Gatsby</i> by F. Scott Fitzgerald</b></div>
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I think the best way to describe my love for Gatsby is this: my English teacher said that he was a 'sad' and 'pathetic' character, and I spent the rest of the class fuming. Tragic, maybe, but Gatsby is a dreamer, a romantic, and a <i>beautiful</i> character. </div>
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<b>5. Jem Carstairs</b></div>
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<b><i>The Infernal Devices</i> by Cassandra Clare</b></div>
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Tessa Gray may just be the luckiest girl in the world. Jem is sweet, caring, kind, and overall just a lovely person. I fell in love with Jem as soon as he was introduced in <i>Clockwork Prince.</i> Plus, he plays the violin. That sealed my crush right there. String instruments (and guys who play them) are automatically attractive. </div>
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<b>4. Adam</b></div>
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<b><i>The Raven Boys</i> by Maggie Stiefvater</b></div>
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Yes, I loved Gansey. I loved all of the Raven Boys. But Adam, 100% without question, is the one I loved the most. When I was making this list, there was no way he wasn't going to be on it. I can't even describe why I love him so much - he's just such an amazing character. Like I said, I loved Gansey, but anyone who would choose him over Adam is <i>clearly</i> insane. </div>
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<b>3. Giddon</b></div>
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<b><i>Bitterblue</i> by Kristin Cashore</b></div>
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It's been a long time since I've read Graceling, so I'll admit I don't remember Giddon's character a lot in that book. In Bitterblue, however, he was absolutely perfect all of the time. There was not a single scene where I didn't love what he was saying, or doing, or just enjoy reading about him. He and Bitterblue definitely had some chemistry, too - I say this because if I can't have Giddon because I'm not fictional, someone who <i>is</i> fictional should have a shot. </div>
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<b>2. Will Herondale</b></div>
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<b><i>The Infernal Devices</i> by Cassandra Clare</b></div>
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I've mentioned once or twice before on this blog that it's impossible for me to choose between Jem and Will. In the context of the story, that's true - I don't want either one of them to have to give up Tessa, or be sad for even a second. Still, from <i>my</i> point of view, Will - with his wicked sarcasm and constant references to literature - is more up my alley than Jem, if not by much. </div>
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<b>1. Aramis</b></div>
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<b><i>The Three Musketeers </i>from Alexandre Dumas</b></div>
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The first book-guy I really, truly, fell in love with, and no one has topped him since. Nearly everything he did in The Three Musketeers made me sigh longingly. He's brave, loyal, intelligent... if you had asked me before I read a single word of The Three Musketeers to describe the perfect guy, I would have ended up with someone a lot like Aramis. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-46006946778859266832013-03-26T18:29:00.000-07:002013-03-26T18:29:32.856-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFqivojZEYA/UVJGYflPkpI/AAAAAAAAA88/V9NQILjUq1E/s1600/lunapic_131976435017439_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFqivojZEYA/UVJGYflPkpI/AAAAAAAAA88/V9NQILjUq1E/s320/lunapic_131976435017439_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading and planning to read, posted on Tuesdays. It was inspired by the feature On Myshelf at the blog <a href="http://blogbymyshelf.com/">All by Myshelf.</a><br />
<br />
Starting this post off with a slightly off-topic (but still related) subject: every year, the public library hosts an auction to raise money. They put on a dinner, take donations, and then whatever people pay for the items goes to the library. It's a really great event, and this year, since I'm volunteering at the library for my graduation project, I was there to help out - which mostly consisted of folding 130 napkins and setting 130 place settings the night before and then hovering around incase anyone needed anything that night.<br />
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Anyway, here's the part that ties into my reading update: as I was helping to set up some things for the silent auction, I came across this lovely box that someone had put together and donated, filled with a blanket, snacks, a book, a candle, and several other things. During the auction I put in a bid, luckily won, and came home with, among other things, my own copy of <i>The Help</i>. My aunt (a fellow book nerd) told me that it's a fantastic read. I can't wait to start it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhrLAYLQ8So/SJICQf0xSkI/AAAAAAAADyw/91laXrBRjjg/s200/The+Dragon+Heir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhrLAYLQ8So/SJICQf0xSkI/AAAAAAAADyw/91laXrBRjjg/s320/The+Dragon+Heir.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
I also added two books from the school library to my reading pile this week: <i>The Curiosities </i>by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff, and <i>The Dragon Heir</i> by Cinda Williams Chima. I've already started <i>The Curiosities</i> and absolutely love it - it's so unique, and of course, Maggie Stiefvater is involved, so it's guaranteed to be fantastic. I haven't started The Dragon Heir, but I can't wait to find out what happens next - The Wizard Heir left a lot of questions unanswered.<br />
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That's it for this week. Spring break soon, though, which means even more time for reading.<br />
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~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-23155576613473265312013-03-26T13:40:00.000-07:002013-03-26T13:40:03.157-07:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. A new topic is posted each week, and blogger share their top ten in the category.<br />
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<b><u>Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most</u></b></div>
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<i>"Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal. </i><i>And you become convinced that that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book."</i></div>
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10. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</div>
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By Douglas Adams</div>
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9. The Demon King</div>
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By Cinda Williams Chima</div>
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8. Clockwork Angel</div>
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By Cassandra Clare</div>
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7. To Kill A Mockingbird</div>
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By Harper Lee</div>
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6. The Alchemyst</div>
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Michael Scott</div>
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5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</div>
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By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</div>
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4. 1984</div>
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By George Orwell</div>
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3. The Hobbit</div>
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By J.R.R. Tolkien</div>
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2. The Book Thief</div>
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By Markus Zusak</div>
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1. The Scorpio Races</div>
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By Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-23599141538307341632013-03-18T21:45:00.000-07:002013-03-18T21:45:00.449-07:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/"><u>The Broke and the Bookish.</u> </a>A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers share their top ten in the category.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Top Ten Books I Just HAD to Buy...but are still sitting on my shelf unread</u></b></div>
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Only a top five this week, which I consider quite an accomplishment - then again, there are far more books than that sitting unread on my shelf, but most of them have been gifts, not something I've been overwhelmed with the desire to buy. </div>
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<b>5. Trickster's Choice & Trickster's Queen</b></div>
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<b>Tamora Pierce</b></div>
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It was Tamora Pierce. There was absolutely no good excuse for passing up two books by Tamora Pierce. And there's even less of an excuse for having not read them yet. I've owned them for over a year now, and just been so distracted by other books (not all of which have been as good as I know these will be) that I haven't gotten around to them yet. </div>
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<b>4. Grimm's Fairy Tales</b></div>
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It was on sale at Barnes & Noble for some really ridiculous price - around five dollars if my memory is correct. And sure, while most of the stories I'm probably familiar with already, I've never read the original versions of all of them - which completely defeats the purpose of owning this book. </div>
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<b>3. Here There Be Dragons</b></div>
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<b>James A. Owen</b></div>
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Like Tamora Pierce's <i>Trickster</i> books, this was a story that looked incredibly promising, a book I've owned for over a year. And again, I have no valid excuse. </div>
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<b>2. Night and Day</b></div>
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<b>Virginia Woolf</b></div>
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College bookstores are wonderful places, filled with every piece of classic or well-known literature you could imagine (although sometimes overpriced.) It was in just such a place that I picked up this book, choosing it at random because a friend assured me that "anything by Viriginia Woolf would be fantastic." Then I started reading the introduction, which did nothing but talk about how this was one of the worst novels Woolf had written. I've been putting off reading it ever since, even though I can't imagine that it's anything other than wonderful. </div>
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<b>1. Pathfinder</b></div>
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<b>Orson Scott Card</b></div>
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In 2011, I was willing to risk overweight luggage in order to buy this book in a Key West bookstore and bring it home. I ended up buying it later, but this book was one I was absolutely dying to get my hands on - and I still haven't read it. That's a big problem. </div>
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Feeling completely guilted into reading these books at the first available opportunity,</div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-16491812521789701182013-02-26T20:33:00.000-08:002013-02-26T20:33:55.970-08:00The Reading Room (32)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhVQAGXWD_Q/UPd3cjpzMCI/AAAAAAAAA6o/f1dw840gei8/s320/lunapic_131976435017439_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fhVQAGXWD_Q/UPd3cjpzMCI/AAAAAAAAA6o/f1dw840gei8/s320/lunapic_131976435017439_6.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading and planning to read, posted on Tuesdays. It was inspired by the feature On Myshelf at the blog <a href="http://blogbymyshelf.com/">All By Myshelf.</a></div>
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<a href="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/THE-GREAT-GATSBY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/THE-GREAT-GATSBY.jpg" width="213" /></a>I'm in the middle of several books at the moment, which is of course when I'm at my happiest. We've been reading <i>The Great Gatsby </i>for English class, and so far, I absolutely love it. There's so much detail and description, without it being overwhelming or impossible to understand, like some other books we've read for that class. [Insert awkward-cough-House-of-the-Seven-Gables-cough here. I'm also partway through <i>Things Not Seen</i> by Andrew Clements, which is on our Reading Competition list for the spring competition and has been pleasantly surprising so far. </div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346791460l/13316328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346791460l/13316328.jpg" width="213" /></a>Finally, because no week is complete without a trip to the library for non-obligatory reading, I checked out <i>The Last Dragonslayer</i> by Jasper Fforde and <i>The Brides of Rollrock Island </i>by Margo Lanagan on Monday. I started <i>The Last Dragonslayer</i> that same day and already I love it; I haven't started <i>The Brides of Rollrock Island,</i> but it looks really good, so I can't wait to. And that's my reading update for this week! If only there was more time to read all these amazing books (school has been exploding into business lately, but it should wind down soon.)</div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-78168723740571560962013-02-26T20:17:00.001-08:002013-02-26T20:17:25.312-08:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by<a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/"> The Broke and the Bookish. </a> A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers share their top ten in the category.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Top Ten Authors I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List</u></b></div>
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<b>10. Ally Carter</b></div>
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The first book of hers I encountered was <i>Heist Society</i>, which I fell head-over-heels in love with from the very first page. In addition to this, she's also written the incredible <i>Gallagher Girls </i>series, which is incredible for so many reasons. Her books are fantastic in ways I can't even describe, and I would eagerly devour almost anything she wrote. </div>
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<b>9. Cassandra Clare</b></div>
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Let's just say this: anyone who can make me fall in love with <i>every single character</i> in a book as quickly as Cassandra Clare did in <i>Clockwork Prince</i> deserves a spot on this list. She's an incredible author and truly a master of her craft. </div>
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<b>8. Kirsten Miller</b></div>
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At first, I was content just to read the books in her Kiki Strike series, but then I started following her blog, and was intrigued by the other things she's written. I received <i>The Eternal Ones</i> for Christmas, won an advanced copy of <i>The Darkness Dwellers</i> in a giveaway on the blog, and can't wait to get my hands on a copy of <i>How to Lead a Life of Crime.</i> Absolutely anything she writes is guaranteed to be thrilling and dangerous.</div>
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<b>7. Tamora Pierce</b></div>
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I've read almost all of her books without being disappointed yet. I love the worlds she creates, her storytelling style, and her characters. She's just a great author who I can count on for quality stories, and I value that a lot, so of course I'll snatch up her next book as soon as it's released. </div>
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<b>6. Sarah Dessen</b></div>
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It was really nice right after one of my friends (over at http://hellosimpleme.blogspot.com/) had introduced me to Sarah Dessen and recommended her book <i>Just Listen. </i>Why? Because I had discovered my love for Sarah Dessen and had all the books she'd ever written to keep me entertained. Now I've read all of her books and own most of them, and so all I can do is wait eagerly for a new release and pounce on it the second it's available. </div>
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<b>5. Cornelia Funke</b></div>
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Cornelia Funke was basically my inspiration for life when I was younger. I wanted to write books like hers, and reading <i>Dragon Rider</i> and the Inkheart trilogy played a big role in developing my love of fantasy. I still love her books and can barely handle my anticipation anytime I hear rumors that she might be releasing a new one. </div>
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<b>4. Markus Zusak</b></div>
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The author of <i>The Book Thief</i>, who I rave about on a fairly regular basis, was obviously going to earn a spot on this list. I've only read two of his books, <i>The Book Thief</i> and <i>I Am The Messenger</i>, but both were too incredible for words. He really is a genius, a literary artist, a master. While there are a lot of fantastic authors, I have yet to read one whose images are as powerful as the ones Markus Zusak creates. </div>
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<b>3. Cinda Williams Chima</b></div>
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I've gushed a lot about her Seven Realms Series (<i>The Demon King, The Exiled Queen, The Gray Wolf Throne</i>, and <i>The Crimson Crown</i>) on here; I've mentioned, but gushed slightly less about, her Heir series, which I'm in the process of reading right now and love. Clearly, I have to buy any new book she writes the moment it's released - otherwise, I'd run out of things to gush about. </div>
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<b>2. Sarah Addison Allen</b></div>
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Of course, there's always Sarah Addison Allen, whose work I discovered over the summer when I read <i>Garden Spells.</i> As with Sarah Dessen, I quickly devoured everything she'd already written and am now waiting anxiously for a new release. </div>
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<b>1. Maggie Stiefvater</b></div>
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Much like deeming <a href="http://yoursoulonpaper.blogspot.com/2012/07/top-ten-tuesday_09.html">Holmes & Watson the best literary duo</a>, this was a really predictable first choice, but I really had no other option. She is one of the most incredible authors I have ever read - <i>ever</i> - and I literally have <i>nothing</i> bad to say about her. She could write a user's manual for a car, and I would read it.<br />
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-28145456551491544042013-02-08T19:58:00.003-08:002013-02-08T19:58:48.213-08:00Tuned In To (11)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tzqt0IXvo4w/UJQibo1jauI/AAAAAAAAA08/86PS37MjOZE/s320/lunapic_133981325826255_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tzqt0IXvo4w/UJQibo1jauI/AAAAAAAAA08/86PS37MjOZE/s320/lunapic_133981325826255_23.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Tuned In To is a weekly feature discussing albums I've been listening to, songs that have been stuck in my head, or artists that I've discovered, and is posted on Fridays.<br />
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So there are two really amazing songs I've encountered this week. The first is "The Devil Wears a Suit" by Kate Miller-Heidke, which I came across on Tumblr, and it simply blew me away. I love the instrumentals and the way she sings it, and the lyrics are incredible. Just - listen to it, and I guarantee you'll be as awed as I was.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q3FVQynT3pU" width="420"></iframe><br />
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The second one I came across today - as is usually the case in Physics class, my lab partner and I had no motivation to start on homework that wasn't due until Tuesday, so she started doodling song lyrics to Florence & the Machine's "Drumming Song." I listened to it on her iPod in the locker room before gym class, and it is an INCREDIBLE song. (Not really a surprise, considering it's Florence and the Machine.) I'm obsessed with it now, and you will be too.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3SZ0p05bAlI" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Other than that, I've mostly been listening to "No Light, No Light", also by Florence & the Machine, which I'm singing for the school's Open Mic Night.<br />
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~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-72794385508461860862013-02-05T21:01:00.001-08:002013-02-05T21:01:29.308-08:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-Y4MmmLh4g/UKqw_hIFU1I/AAAAAAAABjY/3Y667U-WWXE/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers share their top ten in the category.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Top Ten Best Bookish Memories</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b>10. Finishing <i>The Scorpio Races</i></b></div>
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I can still remember every detail of this event. It was both ordinary and extremely out-of-the-ordinary at the same time. We were on our way back home from a trip to a city about two hours away; we stopped for dinner; I read on my nook until the food came, and then in the car for the remainder of the trip. But the dinner was at a restaurant that overlooked a lake, and we sat by the window; the atmosphere was very similar to the book, so I really felt like I was in the story. And when I finished the book, I was listening to <i>Swallowed in the Sea</i> by Coldplay on my iPod, a song that fits the ending really well. It was just one of those moments where everything comes together in absolute perfection. </div>
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<b>9. Reading <i>The Reptile Room</i></b><br />
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The second book in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is memorable because of where I read it: I'm pretty sure I read the entire thing while sitting in a tree. It was a fairly comfortable place to sit if you went about it right, and I'd just discovered a perfect notch to balance a book on while I climbed up and down.<br />
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<b>8. Key West: Bookstores</b><br />
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Our week-long vacation to Key West two years ago was so delightfully bookish that three events from it earned a spot on this list, the first being the bookstores I discovered. I stumbled upon one while bicycling around town the first day; I don't remember the name, but I do remember it was absolutely overflowing with new and used books, a creaky wood floor, and was the place where I bought both of the Lemony Snicket books I own and my copy of <i>The Book Thief</i>. The second was named something that had to do with Voltaire and was more modern and most importantly, air-conditioned, making it the perfect place to seek relief from the 90-some-degree days. I bought Cornelia Funke's book <i>Reckless</i> there, and would have bought more had my mom not reminded me that I did have to fit all of my purchases into my suitcase for the plane ride home.<br />
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<b>7. <i>Writing Magic</i></b><br />
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I got this fantastic book for my twelfth birthday, and it has been the equivalent of my writing bible ever since. I spent that entire summer typing away on our old desktop in the computer room, trying out all the exercises and stories. It definitely shaped me as a writer, and I have a lot of fond memories associated with it.<br />
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<b>6. Buying <i>You Have to Stop This</i></b></div>
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<i>You Have to Stop This</i> is the final book in The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch, a series that my best friend and I have been obsessed with ever since I recommended the first book, <i>The Name of This Book is Secret</i> to her. We were at an outdoor Christmas festival and stepped into the bookstore to get warm when we discovered this book. I'm pretty sure we actually screamed. I convinced my parents it was a good early Christmas present, and both of us had read within the next week.</div>
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<b>5. Meeting Erin Hunter</b></div>
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Erin Hunter, for those of you who don't know, is the author of the <i>Warriors</i> series, which I was obsessed with when I was younger. She visited Toronto one year in May, and my family made the four-hour drive to see her - well, Vicky Holmes, 1/3 of the writing team that creates the books under a single pseudonym. I've since outgrown the series and the writing style, but it was still one of the coolest things I've ever done. I have two of my <i>Warriors</i> books signed by her and the watercolor of Tigerstar that I gave her got a mention on her blog. </div>
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<b>4. <i>The Lord of the Rings</i></b></div>
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I can't even think of this book without bringing up dozens of memories. This was a massive undertaking for me at the time I read it, and it took me an entire summer and into the fall to complete it, reading other books along the way. Whenever I go back and look through it again, I can remember all the places I was when I read it - on our porch, in a hotel room, in the car, in my grandmother's backyard. I have really specific, detailed memories associated with this book, which is probably part of the reason I'm so attached to it. </div>
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<b>3. Touring Ernest Hemingway's House</b></div>
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Ernest Hemingway was really fond of Key West. So fond of it, that he lived there. And I got to see his house. And it was awesome. That was my second bookish adventure: just casually wandering around the Hemingway house, very discreetly running my hand over Hemingway's furniture and poking my head into roped-off rooms and not-so-discreetly fawning over the resident six-toed cats. Since then, Hemingway has become one of my favorite authors. Four of his books now have prime spots on my shelves, and they were all purchased at the gift shop after the tour. </div>
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<b>2. Winning <i>Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers</i></b></div>
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I won an advanced copy of this book on Kirsten Miller's blog a few months ago, and I was beyond thrilled. In November, I was reading a book that wasn't supposed to be released until the end of January. Not only that, but Kirsten Miller had written 'Stay Dangerous' on the inside. I love the Kiki Strike books and had been waiting for the third one for years. (Not exaggerating.) Having this book was one of the coolest things ever. Of course, not as cool at the last memory on my list...</div>
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<b>1. Being in the same restaurant as Judy Blume AND Meg Cabot. </b></div>
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My final and most exciting Key West adventure. Apparently Ernest Hemingway wasn't the only author who was fond of the Florida Keys. Turns out Judy Blume and Meg Cabot like it there too. So if you're there on vacation and are at the restaurant Sarabeth's, you might find yourself sitting at a table next to a group that includes a woman talking about things she's written and visiting the set of a movie. And you might just be eavesdropping on their conversation. And then, after the group gets up and leaves, the owner/host of the restaurant might come over to your table and note that he saw you reading at the table earlier, and so he thinks there's something about the people who were sitting at the next table that you might want to know. And then you might just find out that you were eavesdropping on JUDY FREAKING BLUME. </div>
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And then, because your mind is not sufficiently blown, he'll just casually mention that Meg Cabot - yes, author of the Princess Diaries, <i>that </i>Meg Cabot - was sitting in another part of the restaurant. </div>
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I didn't sleep much that night. </div>
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(My signed copy of Firestar's Quest. According to Vicky Holmes, I'm a number one fan.)</div>
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(Signed Advanced Copy of The Darkness Dwellers. Probably the coolest/most kick-butt book I own.) </div>
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(This is Hemingway's bed. That's one of the six-toed cats chilling on Hemingway's pillow.)</div>
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(This was the view from his balcony. How can you NOT be inspired?)</div>
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(This was the restaurant we saw Judy Blume. We sat underneath the umbrella, right in the front there.)</div>
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blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-6894960206829553682013-01-16T20:19:00.001-08:002013-01-16T20:19:22.477-08:00The Reading Room (31)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Reading Room is a weekly update on books I'm reading and planning to read, and was inspired by the feature On Myshelf at the blog <a href="http://blogbymyshelf.com/">All By Myshelf.</a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EaLTkqk0n8/TWQvm0PgtTI/AAAAAAAACJg/k8wH27AW38M/s1600/a+time+of+miracles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EaLTkqk0n8/TWQvm0PgtTI/AAAAAAAACJg/k8wH27AW38M/s1600/a+time+of+miracles.jpg" /></a>I have been fairly bombarded with books lately, which is never a bad thing and not that unusual if you're me. What's surprising is that most of them are for school. I and the other book nerds on the Reading Competition team are working out way through the list of books for the spring competition. The one I grabbed at our meeting on Thursday was <i>A Time for Miracles </i>by Anne-Laure Bondoux, and I'm loving it so far.<br />
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Then there's <i>My Antonia</i>, which we're reading for english class. My feelings about the teacher and most of my classmates aside, I love the book. There's so much imagery and description, and it's set against such a beautiful backdrop of the Nebraska countryside. We're also going to start reading a book for history class - <i>Night</i> by Elie Wiesel. It looks interesting so far.<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a7/Funny_Story_front.jpg/190px-Funny_Story_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a7/Funny_Story_front.jpg/190px-Funny_Story_front.jpg" /></a>Even with all this reading material basically falling from the sky, and a decent stack remaining from Christmas, I still felt the need to stop by the school library and grab a few more. I checked out <i>The Wizard Heir</i>, the second book in Cinda Williams Chima's Heir series, and <i>It's Kind of a Funny Story</i> by Ned Vizzini, which I've wanted to read for awhile now and looks fantastic. I can't wait to start it.<br />
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~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-79475275946729607152012-12-31T23:56:00.002-08:002012-12-31T23:56:53.332-08:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers list their top ten in the category. </div>
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<b><u>Top Ten Books I Resolve to Read in 2013</u></b></div>
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<b>10. Steve Jobs</b></div>
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<b>By Walter Isaacson</b></div>
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I've been meaning to read this book for awhile; I downloaded the eBook sample from Barnes & Noble and liked it, and one of my teachers who read it had a positive review. I think I've been a little scared of it because I'm always wary about biographies - some that I've read were good, some were bad, some were difficult to stay focused on, and others were force-fed to me in elementary school. This year, though, I'm finally going to man up and tackle this book. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i1KJoAaWEmA/TBo0254HfcI/AAAAAAAAAWU/k0UTHSSrLZI/s1600/This+Side+of+Paradise+F.+Scott+Fitzgerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i1KJoAaWEmA/TBo0254HfcI/AAAAAAAAAWU/k0UTHSSrLZI/s200/This+Side+of+Paradise+F.+Scott+Fitzgerald.jpg" width="136" /></a><b>9. This Side of Paradise</b></div>
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<b>By F. Scott Fitzgerald</b></div>
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Because I've wanted to give F. Scott Fitzgerald a try for awhile now, and really hope I can get into his books, because they all look really interesting and promising. This is one of the ones that jumped out at me. I can't wait to give it a try. If I like it, F. Scott Fitzgerald might end up being the author I research for next semester's English project. </div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/City_of_Bones.jpg/200px-City_of_Bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/City_of_Bones.jpg/200px-City_of_Bones.jpg" width="132" /></a><b>8. City of Bones</b></div>
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<b>By Cassandra Clare</b></div>
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I love Cassandra Clare's<i> </i>Infernal Devices series, and although I've wanted to read the Mortal Instruments, I've also wanted to wait until I'd finished the Infernal Devices. <i>Clockwork Princess</i> finally comes out this year, so I'll be able to read <i>City of Bones</i> before the movie comes out. </div>
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<a href="http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/image/detail/Jungle-Book-by-Rudyard-Kipling-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/image/detail/Jungle-Book-by-Rudyard-Kipling-2.jpg" width="130" /></a><b>7. The Jungle Book</b></div>
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<b>By Rudyard Kipling</b></div>
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I read it many years ago, after I was in a play adaptation of it (I was a wolf pup and had two lines, one of which I had a lot of trouble remembering.) but don't remember much and probably didn't understand all of it since I was only ten. I've wanted to reread it since reading <i>The Tiger's Wife</i> over the summer, but didn't get around to it in 2012. In 2013, it's happening for sure. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwqScl_-zn4/UB6WSl6ut1I/AAAAAAAAHIQ/A-L1TJMh-P0/s1600/tumblr_l93nru25Pb1qaouh8o1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwqScl_-zn4/UB6WSl6ut1I/AAAAAAAAHIQ/A-L1TJMh-P0/s200/tumblr_l93nru25Pb1qaouh8o1_400.jpg" width="147" /></a><b>6. The Beautiful and Damned</b></div>
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<b>By F. Scott Fitzgerald</b></div>
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Another enticing book by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This one looks even more appealing than <i>This Side of Paradise. </i>The title, the plot synopsis, even the cover all just draw me in. I can't wait to give both books a try, and hopefully have another author to add to my favorites list. </div>
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<a href="http://covers.feedbooks.net/book/67.jpg?size=large&t=1352387370" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://covers.feedbooks.net/book/67.jpg?size=large&t=1352387370" width="150" /></a><b>5. The Lost World</b></div>
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<b>By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</b></div>
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Of course everyone knows Sir Arthur Conan Doyle because of Sherlock Holmes. And of course I love Sherlock Holmes. But he <i>did </i>write other books, one of which is <i>The Lost World</i>. I've wanted to read some of Conan Doyle's other books for some time now, just to see what they were like, and I figure this is a good place to start. I have high hopes for it; after all, we're talking about the genius who created Sherlock Holmes. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCMilfF2Lho/T4EDp1W2peI/AAAAAAAAATI/XVY49N8-W0w/s1600/The+Joy+Luck+Club+by+Amy+Tan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCMilfF2Lho/T4EDp1W2peI/AAAAAAAAATI/XVY49N8-W0w/s200/The+Joy+Luck+Club+by+Amy+Tan.jpg" width="131" /></a><b>4. The Joy Luck Club</b></div>
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<b>By Amy Tan</b></div>
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There's not much to say about why I want to read this book other than the fact that it just looks like a really amazing story. I'm really excited to get my hands on a copy and give it a try. Plus, I love reading about anything with Chinese culture involved; I find it so fascinating, and always have. </div>
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<a href="http://www.wordchasing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/perks_of_being_a_wallflower_book_cover_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.wordchasing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/perks_of_being_a_wallflower_book_cover_2.jpg" width="130" /></a><b>3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower</b></div>
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<b>By Stephen Chbosky</b></div>
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Everyone at the writing camp I went to over the summer seemed to have read this book, and had nothing but praise for it. And then they made it into a movie. And I, for some ridiculous reason, still have not read it. It's a disgrace. I should be ashamed. So this year, I'm going to read it. Because other than the fact that everyone seems to love it, it has an incredible title. And I want to watch the movie. </div>
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<a href="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/anna-karenina-book-cover-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/anna-karenina-book-cover-01.jpg" width="129" /></a><b>2. Anna Karenina</b></div>
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<b>By Leo Tolstoy</b></div>
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I've wanted to read this book for months. I almost bought it over the summer, but ended up buying <i>Night and Day</i> by Virginia Woolf instead - and have been kicking myself ever since. Not for buying <i>Night and Day,</i> of course, but for <i>not</i> buying Anna Karenina. Because of course they made it into a movie, which looks <i>phenomenal</i>. I mean, it sounds like such an epic story. With Jude Law in it. There's nowhere to go wrong! So now I'm even more determined to read the book, so I can watch the movie when it comes out on DVD. </div>
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<a href="http://www.pagepulp.com/wp-content/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.pagepulp.com/wp-content/29.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>1. Les Miserables</b></div>
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<b>By Victor Hugo</b></div>
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I saw the movie on Sunday and loved it. <i>Loved it</i>. I mean, this movie was too incredible for words. So now, of course, I have to read the book. Here's hoping it's just as epic without being sung. Of course, I could just listen to the soundtrack on repeat while reading it. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
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blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-3551832767721608692012-12-31T22:59:00.001-08:002012-12-31T22:59:18.795-08:002012: A Year In Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iO3qw6xpJs/UOJ_XYbOc7I/AAAAAAAAA6I/kwvJepqMFow/s1600/2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iO3qw6xpJs/UOJ_XYbOc7I/AAAAAAAAA6I/kwvJepqMFow/s320/2012.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last year on New Year's Eve, I had nothing to do except watch Coldplay's New Year's Eve performance, and so devoted my evening to a so-called "Secret Bookish Project", titled "2011: A Year In Books." (full explanation of how it works <a href="http://yoursoulonpaper.blogspot.com/2011/12/secret-bookish-project.html">here</a> I really enjoyed recapping the best books I'd read throughout the year, and so decided to do it again this year. Although it is no longer secret, and technically where I am it is already 2013 (I had plans this year! Gasp!) it is still bookish, and so without further ado...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">2012</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Year in Books</span></div>
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<b>BOOK OF THE YEAR</b></div>
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<a href="https://perfectnostalgia.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/i-am-the-messenger-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://perfectnostalgia.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/i-am-the-messenger-cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<i>I am the Messenger</i></div>
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By Markus Zusak</div>
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I read a lot of really amazing books this year, but this one, hands down, was the best. Markus Zusak (<i>The Book Thief</i>) writes books that are incredible, inspiring, gritty, real, and life-changing, and the way he crafts words is absolutely beautiful. This book was perfect in every sense of the word, and the only real candidate for Book of the Year.</div>
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<b>AUTHOR OF THE YEAR</b></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Maggie_Stiefvater.jpg/220px-Maggie_Stiefvater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Maggie_Stiefvater.jpg/220px-Maggie_Stiefvater.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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If there's a blog post that goes by without me mentioning this amazing author, something's wrong. I had read the first book in her Wolves of Mercy Falls series, <i>Shiver</i>, in 2011. In 2012, I discovered <i>Lament</i> and <i>Ballad</i> and then proceeded to devour every other book she had written, and loved every single one of them. Plus, based on her blog, she seems like a really cool person. I can't wait to read more from her in 2013. </div>
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<b>BEST CONCLUSION TO A SERIES</b></div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317844406l/8519822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317844406l/8519822.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<i>The Enchantress</i></div>
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By Michael Scott</div>
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A lot of amazing series came to a close in 2012, and they all ended spectacularly. The best one, though, had to by The Enchantress. There was so much going on in this book, and it was all handled beautifully. I could not stop turning pages. The character development was amazing, and the plot was perfect. Definitely the best conclusion this year. </div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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<i>The Crimson Crown </i>by Cinda Williams Chima</div>
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<i>Forever</i> by Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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<i>13 Secrets</i> by Michelle Harrison</div>
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<i>The Serpent's Shadow</i> by Rick Riordan</div>
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<b>BEST CLASSIC</b></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Houndofbaskervil.jpg/200px-Houndofbaskervil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Houndofbaskervil.jpg/200px-Houndofbaskervil.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></div>
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By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</div>
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It's easy to see why this is the most well-known and considered the best of all the Holmes stories. The atmosphere, suspense, and mystery were more intense and better described than in any of the other mysteries. Not only was it a brilliant mystery, it was beautifully written. Plus...yes, okay, I have a bias towards anything involving Sherlock Holmes. </div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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(not a complete list, just other notable books in the genre)</div>
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<i>Brave New World</i> by Aldous Huxley</div>
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<i>The Crucible</i> by Arthur Miller</div>
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<i>A Christmas Carol</i> by Charles Dickens</div>
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<i>A Study in Scarlet</i> by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</div>
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<i>The House of the Seven Gables</i> by Nathaniel Hawthorne</div>
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<b>BEST COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES</b></div>
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<a href="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm100563164/firebirds-rising-original-anthology-science-fiction-fantasy-alan-dean-foster-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm100563164/firebirds-rising-original-anthology-science-fiction-fantasy-alan-dean-foster-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Firebirds Rising</i></div>
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Edited by Sharyn November</div>
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All of the Firebirds anthologies were amazing, but Firebirds Rising stood out - not only from the other Firebirds anthologies, but from other anthologies, too - as the clear best. I loved not only the fantasy included here, but the science fiction, which I didn't expect. All of the stories in here were brilliant, and I highly recommend this collection</div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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<i>Firebirds Soaring </i>edited by Sharyn November</div>
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<i>The Coyote Road </i>edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Winding</div>
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<i>The Return of Sherlock Holmes</i> by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</div>
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<b>BEST DYSTOPIAN</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.laurendestefano.com/images/books/feverS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.laurendestefano.com/images/books/feverS.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Fever</i></div>
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By Lauren DeStefano</div>
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The Chemical Garden Trilogy is one of the best post-apocalyptic/dystopian series I've ever read, even rivaling The Hunger Games. These are incredible books, and Fever was every bit as fantastic as Wither, which <i>almost</i> won this category last year<i>. </i>This year, it's a clear victory for the Chemical Garden trilogy. And it could make an appearance again next year, after the release of <i>Sever</i>, which I cannot wait for. </div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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<i>Witch and Wizard</i> by James Patterson</div>
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<i>Incarceron</i> by Catherine Fisher</div>
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<i>Brave New World </i>by Aldous Huxley</div>
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<i>Matched</i> by Ally Condie</div>
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<i>The Gift</i> by James Patterson</div>
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<i>The Fire</i> by James Patterson</div>
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<b>BEST FANTASY</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.cindachima.com/Demon_King/DK_cover_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cindachima.com/Demon_King/DK_cover_md.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>The Demon King</i></div>
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By Cinda Williams Chima</div>
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This year I discovered the incredible author Cinda Williams Chima, and immediately fell in love with her Seven Realms Series. This book, which I've praised several times on the blog, faced tough competition - this was a good year for fantasy - but still prevailed as the best fantasy book I've read this year. </div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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<i>The Thief</i> by Megan Whalen Turner</div>
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<i>13 Secrets</i> by Michelle Harrison</div>
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<i>The Scorpio Races</i> by Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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<i>Bitterblue</i> by Kristin Cashore</div>
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<i>The Warrior Heir</i> by Cinda Williams Chima</div>
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<i>Pegasus</i> by Robin McKinley</div>
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<i>Eona</i> by Allison Goodman</div>
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<b>BEST HISTORICAL FICTION</b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6_7-vpGBYvw/TUmXo7vxfBI/AAAAAAAAC4U/w_KIBvHx1KQ/s1600/evolution-of-calpurnia-tate-061909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6_7-vpGBYvw/TUmXo7vxfBI/AAAAAAAAC4U/w_KIBvHx1KQ/s320/evolution-of-calpurnia-tate-061909.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<i>The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate</i></div>
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By Jacqueline Kelly</div>
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This book was so beautiful. I loved Calpurnia and her relationship with her grandfather, and reading about their adventures in the nature that surrounds them. It was such a sweet, heartwarming story, and I highly recommend it to anyone.</div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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<i>Between Shades of Gray </i>by Ruta Sepetys</div>
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<i>Geronimo</i> by Joseph Bruchac</div>
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<i>The Smile</i> by Donna Jo Napoli</div>
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<i>Jefferson's Sons</i> by Kimberly Bradley</div>
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<i>La's Orchestra Saves the World</i> by Alexander McCall Smith</div>
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<i>Cleopatra's Moon </i>by Vicky Shecter</div>
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<b>BEST THRILLER/SUSPENSE</b></div>
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<a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1423116399.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1423116399.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<i>Heist Society</i></div>
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By Ally Carter</div>
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I loved this book. It was such an engaging read. All the characters were incredible, the plot kept me hooked, and the writing was good without getting in the way or distracting from the story. I loved it and can't wait to read the second book, <i>Uncommon Criminals,</i> which I got for Christmas.</div>
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<b>BEST (REALISTIC) YA FICTION</b></div>
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<a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316127256.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316127256.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<i>Why We Broke Up</i></div>
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By Daniel Handler</div>
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Heartbreaking, emotional, touching, sweet, and beautifully written, all at the same time. In my review, I gave this book the highest possible compliment: I didn't want it to end. I wanted this story to go on forever, just so I could keep reading about it. This is a work of genius right here. </div>
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<u>What Else I've Read</u></div>
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<i>How to Save a Life </i>by Sara Zarr</div>
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<i>Write Naked</i> by Peter Gould</div>
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<i>Paper Covers Rock</i> by Jenny Hubbard</div>
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<i>The Story of Us</i> by Deb Caletti</div>
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<b>OTHER BOOKS WORTH MENTIONING</b></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/The_Tiger's_Wife_(Obreht_novel)_cover_art.jpg/200px-The_Tiger's_Wife_(Obreht_novel)_cover_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/The_Tiger's_Wife_(Obreht_novel)_cover_art.jpg/200px-The_Tiger's_Wife_(Obreht_novel)_cover_art.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://kimbofo.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451bcff69e201157121d8a4970c-300wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://kimbofo.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451bcff69e201157121d8a4970c-300wi" width="130" /></a><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309285027l/11387515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309285027l/11387515.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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These are some other books that I felt deserved a mention, although they didn't fit in any particular category: <i>The Tiger's Wife</i>, by Tea Obreht, with its stunning setting and description and intertwining stories; <i>Garden Spells</i>, which brought me into the magical world of Sarah Addison Allen; and <i>Wonder</i>, which warmed my heart and taught me some important lessons about love and kindness. Of course, these are just a few of the incredible books I read this year. 2012 was a great year for reading, and I'm looking forward to another wonderfully bookish year in 2013. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
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blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-817199864177991762012-12-29T18:37:00.003-08:002012-12-29T18:37:50.108-08:00Book Review: The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cindachima.com/Crimson_Crown/CCcover_823x1275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cindachima.com/Crimson_Crown/CCcover_823x1275.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed - Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.<br />
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Now, once again, the queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa <i>ana</i>'Marianna, maintaing peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible. Tension between wizards and clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells' inner turmoil, Raisa's best hope it to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.<br />
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Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cutthroat world of blueblood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Ha finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for raisa. Before long, Han uncovers a secret believed to be lost to history, a revelation powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can save his queendom?<br />
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A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie comes to light at last in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series. </div>
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<br /><div>
This was a superb ending to Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms series. The action that had been building up over the past three books came to a climax here, and it made the book exciting and impossible to put down. The plot was exciting, well structured, and perfectly paced, and the world was as rich and vibrant as ever, made even more so by the additional details about Aediion, earth magic combined with High Magic, and the true history of Queen Hanalea and Alger Waterlow. </div>
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What really made this book stand out to me, however, was the character development. There was not one character in this story who had not undergone at least some change since the beginning of the first book, The Demon King. Han's was the most pronounced; it was incredible to see him finally determine what he wanted and go after it, and it made me root even more for him to succeed. Han discovered a lot of truth about himself, Raisa, and the world in this book, and it made him a very different character, even more likable and compelling than before. Micah also changed drastically, from the reckless, charming, spoiled young man he was in The Demon King to a much more mature person who'd learned a lot of humility and patience - as much as any Bayar can learn those traits. Moments like when he and Han worked together to keep Raisa safe when the temple was burning and when Micah proclaimed to his father that he would "Get in bed with the bloody copperheads if I have to," showed that just like Han, Micah finally has something of his own that he believes in and is willing to fight for. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Micah and Han weren't the only characters to change. The moments where Raisa finally allowed herself to be weak helped her to see the path forward. Amon reestablished his friendship with Raisa while learning to trust Han to protect her. Adam Gryphon stepped out of his parents' shadow, Night Bird learned to see a future where clan and wizards worked together, and maybe most thrilling of all, Fire Dancer stepped up to claim his legacy and his place as both a wizard and a member of the clans and exposed Gavan Bayar for what he did to Dancer's mother. The revelation of the truth about Alger Waterlow and his love for Hanalea was beautifully done. Even Fiona's character became more complex in this book - even though she's ruthless and dangerous, she's also clearly attracted to Han, and the scene where her father refused to help her because of his desire to find the armory of the gifted kings was actually one of the saddest scenes in the book. All of this was done without making the antagonists too likable or the heroes too flawed, instead striking the perfect balance. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Aside from a few minor flaws - Reid Nightwalker's character was not as well-executed as the others and Elena and Averill Demonai could come off a little too warlike at times - this book was incredible, and I loved every page. The most amazing thing about this book is that it's about magic, wars, politics, nature, right and wrong, justice, history, and lies, while at the same time remaining, at its heart, a love story. Once again, a perfect conclusion to the incredible Seven Realms Series. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-34388239181540440882012-12-11T20:28:00.000-08:002012-12-11T20:28:11.958-08:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-far3nlYKOZY/UL1o_HM7BkI/AAAAAAAAA5k/WNmNeblkD4w/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-far3nlYKOZY/UL1o_HM7BkI/AAAAAAAAA5k/WNmNeblkD4w/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers list their top ten in the category.<br />
<br />
Sorry for the lateness of this post! Just barely getting it in on Tuesday. Today was filled with craziness.<br />
<br />
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<b><u>Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2012</u></b></div>
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<b>10. Nathaniel Hawthorne</b></div>
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I still stand by the fact that I absolutely <i>hated</i> The House of the Seven Gables, but I'm reading The Scarlet Letter right now and I'm liking it so far. We're also reading some of his short stories for English class, and those are considerably less painful. I'm actually enjoying The Minister's Black Veil, and Rappaccini's Daughter and Young Goodman Brown look pretty interesting. I don't love him, which is why he's tenth on the list, but I am glad I've read some of his stuff. </div>
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<b>9. Sara Zarr</b></div>
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Her book <i>How to Save a Life</i> was beyond incredible; it was moving and nearly perfect in every way. I loved it, and I'm so glad I discovered this author. I definitely want to read more by her, and soon - she's awesome. </div>
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<b>8. Ruta Sepetys</b></div>
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The author of <i>Between Shades of Gray,</i> one of our books for the fall Reading Competition that I absolutely loved. Her next release, <i>Out of the Easy</i>, made my list of the top ten books I'm looking forward to in 2013. It's authors like this that make me absolutely love historical fiction. </div>
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<b>7. James Patterson</b></div>
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I finally got into James Patterson's books this year when I started reading <i>Witch and Wizard</i>. I loved those books and was quick to finish off the series. Over the summer I started reading Maximum Ride, which I really liked. I'm glad I started reading James Patterson, and look forward to reading more books by him in 2013. </div>
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<b>6. Donna Jo Napoli</b></div>
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The first book of hers I read was <i>Lights on the Nile</i>, but the book that made me love her as an author was <i>The Smile</i>. It was amazing. Looking her up on Barnes&Noble revealed that she'd written a bunch of books that all sounded fantastic. I'm so glad I discovered her. </div>
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<b>5. T.S. Eliot</b></div>
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One of the people I met at writing camp over the summer was really into T.S. Eliot, and recommended him to me; coincidentally, I received <i>Four Quartets</i> as a gift about that same time. And now I want to read every poem T.S. Eliot has written, ever. He is amazing. </div>
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<b>4. Robin McKinley</b></div>
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I finished <i>Pegasus </i>not to long ago, and now I really want to check out some of her other books. Her fantasy writing is incredible - the world she creates, the characters she brings to life, and her writing style - all of it leaves me craving more. </div>
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<b>3. Ally Carter</b></div>
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<i>Heist Society</i> was one of the best books I have ever read. So incredible; I loved it. <i>Uncommon Criminals</i> is high-priority on my Christmas wish list, and <i>I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You</i> is without a doubt going to be the next book I check out from our school library. </div>
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<b>2. Sarah Addison Allen</b></div>
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Compared to other authors I love, like Maggie Stiefvater or Markus Zusak, I don't think I've gushed sufficiently about Sarah Addison Allen. I read all of her books except <i>The Firefly Dance</i> over the summer, and I adored every one of them. I want to live inside one of her novels. </div>
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<b>1. Cinda Williams Chima</b></div>
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There's nothing I love more than a good fantasy author, and Cinda Williams Chima is superb. I've read her Seven Realms Series and <i>The Warrior Heir, </i>and with every book of hers I read, I'm desperate for more. She is incredible, and I love everything about her writing. I love stepping inside her world. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-85282651647688215122012-12-07T19:07:00.001-08:002012-12-07T19:07:52.243-08:00Season Finales Are Emotionally Stressful"Why has this hat got two fronts?"<br />
"It's a deerstalker."<br />
"It's got flaps. It's got ear flaps. It's an ear-hat. What do you mean, we have to be more careful?"<br />
"I mean, Sherlock, that <i>that's</i> not a deerstalker anymore. It's a Sherlock Holmes hat. You're not a private detective anymore. You're practically famous."<br />
<br />
And this is why he is the most iconic literary figure of all time.<br />
<br />
I believe in Sherlock Holmes.<br />
<br />
Just watched the Season 2 finale of Sherlock. To say that I was a bit emotional over it is not quite an adequate description.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I think I would have been fine - well, not fine, but I wouldn't have actually cried - if they hadn't shown Mycroft at the end reading the article in the paper.<br />
<br />
This was me when they showed the Diogenes Club:<br />
<br />
"Mycroft Holmes, if you are not upset about this, you are the most unfeeling, uncaring, despicable human being-"<br />
<br />
[Mycroft looks substantially upset.]<br />
<br />
"No. Oh no. Nevermind. Don't look upset, don't, because you're just like Sherlock, you're unemotional and sociopathic and you're upset and that means you really cared and - great, now I'm going to cry."<br />
<br />
So Mycroft was what got me. That whole episode, all that emotion, and Mycroft's reaction was what sent me over the edge.<br />
<br />
Moving on.<br />
<br />
This episode also happened to be full of incredible quotes...<br />
<br />
"In a world of locked rooms, the man with the key is king...and honey, you should see me in a crown." -Moriarty<br />
<br />
"I may be on the side of angels, but do not think for a second that I am one of them." -Sherlock<br />
<br />
"Well, no one could fake being such an annoying dick all the time." -John.<br />
<br />
And, I honestly think the moments between Sherlock and Molly in this episode have made me stop shipping John/Sherlock. Which is good, because I never really wanted to ship them in the first place, but that ship just sailed itself.<br />
<br />
Problem is, I think I now ship Mycroft and Moriarty. Just as a one-sided thing from Moriarty, but still.<br />
<br />
I'm not even sure what you'd <i>call</i> that. Moriarcroft? Mycroftiarty? I mean, at least <i>Johnlock</i> rolled off the tongue. Although I've recent discovered that Sherlock/Molly is known as <i>Sherlolly,</i> so suddenly Mycroftiarty doesn't sound quite so ridiculous.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry. Sherlock does this to my brain.<br />
<br />
So...now that I've finished watched all episodes of Sherlock, I need another way to get my Sherlock Holmes fix. Recommendations as to which adaptation is the best? Still skeptical about Elementary, but the Jeremy Brett versions are looking promising.<br />
<br />
Or I could just go back to watching <i>Psych</i> religiously. It's like Sherlock, but without the sociopathic consulting detective and the emotional damage.<br />
<br />
Digressing. Ignore me. I'm in shock. Look, I've got a blanket.<br />
I need to stop now.<br />
~blackandwhitedreamerblackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-53605139770191140902012-12-03T19:33:00.001-08:002012-12-03T19:33:12.500-08:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-far3nlYKOZY/UL1o_HM7BkI/AAAAAAAAA5k/WNmNeblkD4w/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-far3nlYKOZY/UL1o_HM7BkI/AAAAAAAAA5k/WNmNeblkD4w/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and The Bookish.</a> A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers post their top ten in the category.<br />
<br />
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<b><u>Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me</u></b></div>
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<b>10. Maximum Ride Manga, Volume 1</b></div>
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<b>By James Patterson</b></div>
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I read <i>The Angel Experiment </i>over the summer and I really liked it, and I <i>really</i> want to read the manga versions of this series - I think it's a story that would translate extremely well to this format. I've wanted to read them for awhile, so hopefully I'll have a chance to get my hands on the first one this Christmas.</div>
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<b>9. The Lord of the Rings</b></div>
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<b>By J.R.R. Tolkien</b></div>
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I am as obsessed with J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle Earth as I am with Sherlock Holmes, if you can imagine that. My dad and I have been sharing his old beat-up copy of the books for awhile now, and while I love that version for the memories, I also stumbled across a really amazing set in a bookstore a month or so ago that I definitely would not mind owning. </div>
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<b>8. Code Name Verity</b></div>
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<b>By Elizabeth Wein</b></div>
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This book was recommended for people who loved <i>The Book Thief</i> by Markus Zusak, which is one of my favorite books of all time. It looks fantastic, and I'd really like to own it - and give it a happy home next to <i>The Book Thief</i> on my shelf. </div>
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<b>7. Anna Karenina</b></div>
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<b>By Leo Tolstoy</b></div>
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I've wanted to read this book since it was mentioned at the summer writing program I attended over the summer, and seeing the trailers for the movie only makes me want to read it even more. It looks like such a huge, epic, fantastic story. (I find the fact that the movie is rated R extremely irksome, as I am still under 18 and do NOT want to go see this movie with my parents.)</div>
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<b>6. Tiger's Quest</b></div>
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<b>By Colleen Houck</b></div>
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I got the first book, Tiger's Curse, for Christmas last year, and although I liked it, never got around to finishing the series. I'd really like to read this book, and it's also one I'd like to own - these books are just so beautiful, and this one has my favorite cover art out of the whole series. </div>
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<b>5. Uncommon Criminals</b></div>
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<b>By Ally Carter</b></div>
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Ally Carter's Heist Society books are already among my favorites, even though I've only read the first one. I <i>need</i> to know what Kat and the rest of the gang get up too next. <i>Heist</i> <i>Society</i> was so amazing. I need more. </div>
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<b>4. House of Shadows</b></div>
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<b>By Rachel Neumeier</b></div>
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I've seen this book on several blogs and it's gotten really good reviews, and I've wanted to read it ever since the first time I saw it. I haven't seen it at the school or public library or any of the libraries nearby, so it looks like if I want to read this book I'm going to have to make a request of Santa Claus to drop it off under my tree.</div>
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<b>3. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King</b></div>
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<b>By William Joyce</b></div>
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I saw Rise of the Guardians over the weekend, and It. Was. Epic. I never thought I could be so amazed and blown away by an animated movie about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost. But - I was. I've wanted to read these books since I saw the movie trailer, and I want to read them even more now. Hopefully the rule of the book is always better than the movie holds true here and I'll be equally wowed by the novels. (Never mind the fact that I'm far too old for them.)</div>
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<b>2. Endure</b></div>
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<b>By Carrie Jones</b></div>
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The conclusion to the Need series holds a well-deserved spot near the top of my wish list. The third book in the series set up for so much excitement and action to occur in the third book, and I absolutely cannot wait to find out how it all ends. </div>
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<b>1. The Crimson Crown</b></div>
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<b>By Cinda Williams Chima</b></div>
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And the only thing that could beat out <i>Endure</i> for the number one spot, <i>The Crimson Crown</i>. The fourth book in the seven realms series can't arrive at my house soon enough. I saw it the other day in a bookstore and almost died from excitement. Unfortunately, my money had to go towards my Christmas shopping for friends and family, so I'm relying on Santa for this one. Still, I'm not sure I'll be able to stand the wait until Christmas. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-53226690202480360132012-11-30T20:12:00.000-08:002012-11-30T20:12:11.533-08:00NaNoWriMo: The Wrap-UpHear that sound?<br />
<br />
It's the sound of cheering as people all over the world cross the NaNoWriMo finish line.<br />
<br />
I am thrilled, grateful, and relieved to count myself among them once again this year.<br />
<br />
The month of November went by surprisingly fast this year. One moment I was marathoning Disney's Halloweentown movies and keeping a close eye on the clock, and the next, I was gathering speed for my final 3,000 words this evening, and then I was crossing the finish line. It all seemed to happen in a blink of an eye this year.<br />
<br />
I think getting ahead early had something to do with that - I wasn't nearly as stressed as last year, and even though I had days when I fell behind, I didn't have to put in as many late nights writing and had more downtime. The fact that this is my fourth NaNoWriMo, and that I'm finally getting the hang of balancing insane amounts of writing with school, extracurriculars, and other distractions, probably had something to do with it as well.<br />
<br />
Although I love the journey of NaNoWriMo and found it a little bittersweet to hit 50k and bring the month to a close, I am glad that I wasn't extremely burnt-out by NaNoWriMo this year. In fact, I almost feel like I would be up to another insane writing challenge right now if you asked me.<br />
<br />
Maybe not another 50k in a month, though. But finishing this novel within the next few months is definitely a strong possibility. There's still a lot of plot to unfold. I'll post updates every now and then to let you know how it's going. I'm more optimistic than ever about being able to incorporate writing into my daily life.<br />
<br />
Before I finish, I do have some thank-yous I'd like to make:<br />
<br />
Lindsey, Grant, and the whole crew at the Offices of Letters and Light. Thank you times a million for all the hard work you put in to this incredible program. My life would not be the same without it.<br />
<br />
My lovely supportive family & friends, who left me alone to write for most of the month, and only dragged me away from the laptop occasionally to make sure I was still sane.<br />
<br />
Dearest Emily and Emily, who decided to attempt this crazy thing alongside me this year. Having you guys frantically writing beside me in study hall was so encouraging.<br />
<br />
Everyone else around the world who participated in NaNoWriMo. The sense of community on the site, in the forums, and all over the internet is what makes this event what it is. Congratulations on an incredible attempt, no matter what your final word count is, and I'll see you next November! Keep writing!<br />
<br />
~blackandwhitedreamer<br />
<br />blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283298709381888469.post-43983454920743437692012-11-27T12:55:00.000-08:002012-11-27T12:55:02.518-08:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LbBXBaq5fM/ULUgX5hQwhI/AAAAAAAAA3U/L8yo3bgKpFY/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LbBXBaq5fM/ULUgX5hQwhI/AAAAAAAAA3U/L8yo3bgKpFY/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and The Bookish.</a> A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers post their top ten in the category.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Top Ten Most Anticipated Books for 2013</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JfKZ8Wyh6w/ULUmqolcGcI/AAAAAAAAA30/mEhbh5cBaNY/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.18.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JfKZ8Wyh6w/ULUmqolcGcI/AAAAAAAAA30/mEhbh5cBaNY/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.18.59+PM.png" width="131" /></a><b>10. Thousand Words</b></div>
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<b>By Jennifer Brown</b></div>
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<b>May 21, 2013</b></div>
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I read <i>Hate List</i> a year or so ago, and I absolutely loved it. It was intense, emotional, and well-written, with fantastic character development. <i>Thousand Words</i> looks equally awesome - it seemed interesting but not too out of the ordinary when I first started reading the description, but the end of the synopsis really made me want to read more. I've seen similar things happen on a much smaller scale, and the idea of how different people would respond sounds really intriguing. I can't wait to read this. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-55Zz-rsFUE0/ULUm0NY4tFI/AAAAAAAAA4E/Y05UqpDGnSI/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.29.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-55Zz-rsFUE0/ULUm0NY4tFI/AAAAAAAAA4E/Y05UqpDGnSI/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.29.57+PM.png" width="133" /></a><b>9. Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets</b></div>
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<b>By Evan Roskos</b></div>
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<b>March 5, 2013</b></div>
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This book looks phenomenal. Just the summary is thought-provoking and emotional. And hey, any book that has "Advice For Sad Poets" in the title is one that I pretty much have to read. It's been awhile since I've read a book with a tone similar to how this one sounds, so I'm eager for this to be released. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-S7fZXxlTc/ULUm06QxOZI/AAAAAAAAA4M/L2AWq0yNEzU/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.31.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-S7fZXxlTc/ULUm06QxOZI/AAAAAAAAA4M/L2AWq0yNEzU/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.31.57+PM.png" width="132" /></a><b>8. Out of the Easy</b></div>
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<b>By Ruta Sepetys</b></div>
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<b>February 12, 2013</b></div>
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I loved <i>Between Shades of Gray, </i>also by Ruta Sepetys, and so I'm definitely willing to read more by this incredible author. Everything about this book just draws me in; the title, the synopsis, the setting, even the cover art. I really want to read this book.</div>
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<b>7. Shades of Earth</b><br />
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<b>By Beth Revis</b></div>
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<b>January 15, 2013</b></div>
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Okay, so, <i>Across the Universe</i> wasn't among the best books I've ever read, but I liked it. I was interested in the plot, and although it didn't leave me dying for more, I am curious to know how things worked out for the characters. I haven't read <i>A Million Suns</i> yet, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to this release, so I can finish off the series. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNcM1wcwc68/ULUm2XJ7HwI/AAAAAAAAA4c/GVBfc_xo9Dw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.37.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNcM1wcwc68/ULUm2XJ7HwI/AAAAAAAAA4c/GVBfc_xo9Dw/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.37.00+PM.png" width="134" /></a><b>6. Blaze (Or Love in the Time of Supervillains)</b></div>
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<b>By Laurie Boyle Crompton</b></div>
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<b>February 1, 2013</b></div>
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I have absolutely no idea what this book is about, but with a kick-butt title like this, I just have to read it. I mean, Love in the Time of Supervillains? Come on! There's really nothing I love more than a good supervillain. Plus, the cover? Amazing. I love her hair. I <i>need</i> to read this book. It looks freaking fantastic.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrnU6da2bM4/ULUmr7g4TlI/AAAAAAAAA38/_oW6JITBAME/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.26.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrnU6da2bM4/ULUmr7g4TlI/AAAAAAAAA38/_oW6JITBAME/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.26.49+PM.png" width="132" /></a></div>
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<b>5. Sever (Chemical Garden Series)</b></div>
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<b>By Lauren DeStefano</b></div>
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<b>February 12, 2013</b></div>
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I absolutely <i>love </i>the Chemical Garden series. It's one of the best dystopian series I've ever read, and I adored <i>Wither</i> and <i>Fever</i>. I can't wait for this book to be released so I can read more of this amazing series and find out what happens. I'm dying to know how it ends. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H2KnhAnW0zc/ULUm4w-KFDI/AAAAAAAAA4s/eX4W-TLAn0U/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.38.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H2KnhAnW0zc/ULUm4w-KFDI/AAAAAAAAA4s/eX4W-TLAn0U/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.38.57+PM.png" width="133" /></a><b>4. How to Lead a Life of Crime</b></div>
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<b>By Kirsten Miller</b></div>
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<b>February 21, 2013</b></div>
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Kirsten Miller = Amazing. I would have put her new Kiki Strike book on the list, but I won an advanced copy of it on her blog, so I'm not as antsy for the official release anymore. I am, however, really looking forward to this book. She's such an incredible author, and I love the look of this new novel. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.</div>
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<b>3. Battle Magic</b></div>
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<b>By Tamora Pierce</b></div>
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<b>April 1, 2013</b></div>
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I have been searching for information about this book's release date ever since I heard Tamora Pierce was writing more books featuring her Circle of Magic characters, who I've dearly missed since finishing The Will of The Empress. To now have a title, a cover, and a release date (however far away it may be) is thrilling. Plus, I've been dying to find out what happened to Briar and Rosethorn between The Circle Opens and The Will of the Empress. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBoJcRPE3PI/ULUm7QD0b-I/AAAAAAAAA48/u0SxYGRow8Q/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.41.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBoJcRPE3PI/ULUm7QD0b-I/AAAAAAAAA48/u0SxYGRow8Q/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.41.48+PM.png" width="134" /></a><b>2. Fearless</b></div>
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<b>By Cornelia Funke</b></div>
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<b>April 2, 2013</b></div>
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I've been <i>dying</i> for a sequel to <i>Reckless </i>ever since I bought it way back in 2011. The wait has been excruciating, but the end it finally in sight. Thank goodness - I have been deprived of Cornelia Funke books for way too long. The Mirror World might be my favorite world that she's ever created, too, making me even more excited for this. </div>
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<b>1. Clockwork Princess</b></div>
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<b>By Cassandra Clare</b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CkTzNfUj9Xg/ULUm8jJ3AGI/AAAAAAAAA5E/e5bcFq2yRsI/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.44.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CkTzNfUj9Xg/ULUm8jJ3AGI/AAAAAAAAA5E/e5bcFq2yRsI/s200/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+3.44.28+PM.png" width="131" /></a><b>March 19, 2013</b></div>
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This book was originally supposed to come out in November or December of this year, so to say that the time between now and March is going to be way too long of a wait is the understatement of the year. Clockwork Prince just made me love these books even more, and I <i>need</i> to know how they end. The wait for this book is going to be almost as bad as the wait for the new season of Sherlock. </div>
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Almost. </div>
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~blackandwhitedreamer</div>
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blackandwhitedreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06610357664062391458noreply@blogger.com5