Friday Firsts {4}

Hosted By : Well-Read Reviews

[Story Title] Cinnamon

[Author] Neil Gaiman

[First Sentences]

Cinnamon was a princess, a long time ago, in a small hot country, where everything was very old. Her eyes were pearls, which gave her great beauty, but meant she was blind. Her world was the colour of pearls: pale white and pink, and softly glowing.

Finish reading the story here!

[Did this make you want to read the rest of the story?]

Yes. It was a quick read. However, I found the end anti-climatic. Perhaps I’m missing something…

Tattoo Tuesday {7} “Don’t Panic”

Do you have a literary tattoo? I’d love to feature it!

Just send me an email with a picture and story behind it.

Books that Bite is reading and discussing The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy this month (Dec 1 @ 8pm CT if you want to join!). In honor of this here are some “Don’t Panic” tattoos. I think these are fun, but not sure that I would get one.

New Moon {Movie Review}

(Same as review posted on taraSG’s 101 in 1001)

Sorry it took so long for me to get this up! I’m still trying to work out a blogging schedule around my new work schedule.

I did go to the midnight showing of Twilight: New Moon on Thursday night/Friday morning! I was a little worried about screaming teen girls, but the crowd was really good. And the movie was GREAT! I was a little nervous about it because I’m a fan of the books and although I liked the first movie, it wasn’t at all that I wanted. New Moon is much, much better. Aside from a bigger budget and therefore better effects, the actors look a lot more how I had pictured them (as far as clothing and style). And um when does Taylor Lautner turn 18?…. I’ve always been Team Edward, however I think I may be Team Jacob for the movies

I LOVED the soundtrack and how they blended it with the right scenes. The timing and feel of the movie matched the book. Yes, it’s mopey and depressing… it was supposed to be!

I’d highly recommend seeing this even if you weren’t impressed by the first movie.

Tattoo Tuesday {6} – Twilight Tattoos

In honor of Twilight: New Moon coming out Thursday at Midnight (yes, I have my ticket!), I’m featuring some Twilight inspired tattoos Some of these are quite nice and I love the quotes. Say what you will about how terrible Stephanie Meyer writes, but there are some beautiful lines. However…. some of these are just too much. I have a feeling they may regret them a few years from now…

Click on the picture to go to the source.

“I know who I can’t live without.”

101 Fantasy Reading Challenge

Hosted By : A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf

So here are the rules:

1. Pick the number of books you want to read. It can be a mixture of the top 101, and/or the whole list. For example, you might want to aim to read 5 from the top 101 and 5 from the rest of the list.
2. Create a list of the books you want to tackle. You can create a list now, or add them as you go. Completely up to you.
3. The challenge runs from 10/10/09 to 10/10/10.

Sign-Up Here!!

I’m aiming to read at least 5 from the top 101 and 15 overall! Here is my tentative list, but I’m going to be open to changing these.

1. CLARE, Cassandra – City of Bones
2. RICE, Anne – Interview with the Vampire
3. PULLMAN, Philip – Northern Lights
4. WARD, JR – Lover Eternal
5. GAIMAN, Neil & PRATCHETT, Terry – Good Omens
6. MONING, Karen Marie – Faefever
7. GAIMAN, Neil – Neverwhere
8. VINCENT, Rachel – My Soul to Take
9. PRATCHETT, Terry – Night Watch
10. KING, Stephen – The Gunslinger
11. COELHO, Paul – The Alchemist
12. ANTHONY, Piers – A Spell for Chameleon
13. RAND, Ayn – Atlas Shrugged
14. BRIGGS, Patricia – Moon Called
15. ARMSTRONG, Kelly – Bitten

In My Mailbox {5}

Hosted by : The Story Siren

Contests/Giveaways {1}

I’m not hosting any at the moment… but be sure to head over and check these out!

• Opicana is giving away a $25 Gift Card to Amazon!

To Review {0}

Purchased {2}

• Graceling by Kristin Cashore (had to have my own copy!)
• Fire (Graceling) by Kristin Cashore

BookMooch {0}

Library {1}

• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Graceling by Kristin Cashore {Review}

This book in 6 words: Made me want to have heterochromia.

I wasn’t planning on reading this yet. There were other books higher up on my TBR pile. However, I couldn’t help but start it last night at 2:00am and then I could not put it down. I finished it early this morning and should probably sleep before writing this review…. oh well…

I LOVED Graceling by Kristen Cashore!! I literally couldn’t put it down. Now I do have a tendency to do this on occasion, but I usually don’t want to slow down so that the book won’t end. The story was absolutely captivating. It was complex without being confusing. There were so many twists and turns and tense moments that were well balanced with the right touch of relationships and romance.

We follow 18-year-old  Katsa, a Grace — meaning she was born with an extreme skill… killing. She is controlled by her uncle, King Randa, and expected to do his dirty work. This is starting to wear on her and she feels less comfortable with the tasks she is sent to perform.

Then she meets Po, a Graced fighter. She is struck by how relaxed him seems around her and how she always feels him staring. She doesn’t plan on befriending him or how drastically it will change her life. She soon learns a secret that could ruin all the kingdoms of her land.

I loved the characters. They were so well-written that I laughed and even teared up at times. The only small thing that kinda bothered me was that Katsa is yet another girl who refuses to marry… I will, however, consent that this is very different since it is set in a medieval-like period and marrying would make her the property of someone else. All in all, it was a minor factor in the overall story. I also having read Hunger Games recently, kept wanting to call Katsa – Katniss and Po – Peta

I will buy this book and reread it (although I think the magic of all the surprises will change the story). I’m also picking up Fire and anxiously awaiting Bitterblue. I think it goes without saying that I highly recommend this book, although I think more so for those who like Fantasy and YA.

* This book counts towards my 101 Books Challenge and my A-Z Books Challenge

Tattoo Tuesday {5}

This week I’m featuring one of the amazing book bloggers from Good Books Inc!! I’m 90.3%  sure it’s Prongs, but I’m sorry if I mixed you two up She has one beautiful literary tattoo and many fantastic ideas in the works. Here is her tattoo inspired by Invictus wrapping around her wrist:

It contains the last two lines (I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul) and she says she “couldn’t be any more obsessed with it!”, which I believe since she is licking in the picture Be sure to head over to the full post and check out her upcoming tattoo ideas!!  And if you don’t already follow Padfood & Prongs, what are you waiting for?!

What Do My Ratings Really Mean?

My Rating System page will tell you that I follow the rating system used on GoodReads, but that doesn’t really tell you what they mean…

* * * * * – it was amazing!

* * * * – really liked it

* * * – liked it

* * – it was ok

* – didn’t like it

So what do I really mean?

1 Star means do not bother reading this book. I have no idea how I managed to finish it. I probably was forced to read this by a friend or family member…

2 Stars means that I had a little problem finishing the book, but I won’t read it again. I’m hesitant to recommend this book. I most likely will not continue the series if this was the first book in it.

2 1/2 Stars means about the same except I might consider reading the next book in the series if there are really good reviews for it.

3 Stars means that I liked the book, but will not be purchasing a copy. I’ll recommend it to those who like the same type of books. I won’t reread it unless I feel like I need to before reading the next in the series. I’ll continue the series, but I’m not bothered about having to wait for the next book.

3 1/2 Stars I guess I would have to say this extra half means I’m more likely to pick up the next book in the series or another book by the same author.

4 Stars I really liked it. I will most likely buy a copy. I will be looking for other books by this author and it will bother me to have to wait to read more in the series. I will recommend this book to everyone.

4 1/2 Stars I basically loved it. I will be buying this book. I’m going nuts waiting for the next in the series. I will reread this book.

5 Stars These are very rare because I’m hesitant to give one out and then read something I love more… This means I LOVED the book. I will be buying and rereading it. I will not only recommend this book to others, but force it on them. Don’t be surprised if I get quotes from these books tattooed on me

Fledgling by Octavia Butler {review}

I am very glad that I stuck with this book… I’m just not sure how to review it without giving too much away…

Fledgling by Octavia Butler tells the story of Shori. The book begins with Shori waking up in the woods in extreme pain with no memory whatsoever. She doesn’t who, what, or where she is. She appears to be a little black girl of maybe 10, however, Shori is a fifty-three-year-old vampire. A lost child of an ancient species living in symbiosis with humans. Shori is genetically modified, the first of her species to be able to not only be awake during the day but also able to walk in the sun. She is able to do this in part because she is one of the first black vampires.

I think a lot of the magic of the book, specially in the beginning is that you are learning along with Shori. So I don’t want to give too much away. I will say that I think you have to have an open mind when you read this. The story jumps into racism, family, free-will, polyamorous relationships, genetic engineering, sex, and pride. The author created a whole new vampire. I love her take on the mythology. It was different, but it worked. It was one of the most realistic versions of the lore I’ve read.

I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not I should write about the part of the book that bothered me in the beginning. I wanted to tell you something that would make it not seem so bad, but I think it’s supposed to bother you. So all I’ll say is don’t give up on it. It may weird you out at first, but it will be ok.

I do highly recommend this book and not just to those who like the paranormal genre. I think that this is more sci-fi/science based than fantasy. And at the bottom of everything it’s really about people and how they treat and think of others.

* Counts towards my 101 Books Challenge