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

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

Blogs Participating in Tattoo Tuesday:

Padfoot & Prongs @ Good Books Inc

In honor of Alice in Wonderland (2010) coming out in theaters this [Keep reading...]]]>

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

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

Blogs Participating in Tattoo Tuesday:

Padfoot & Prongs @ Good Books Inc

In honor of Alice in Wonderland (2010) coming out in theaters this past weekend I thought I would feature an insane Alice inspired tattoo sleeve. Please click to enlarge the images so you can see how beautiful this tattoo is!!

white rabbit

mad hatter

Alice

complete Alice in Wonderland sleeve

These were done by Tim Harris of Hope Gallery Tattoo in New Haven, CT. I’m extremely impressed with his work and if I lived closer (and had the guts to go this big) I would be looking him up!

Have you entered to win

a vampire book of your choice?

Or for the

signed copy of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies?

Last night my friend, Mrs Shoo, and I went to see Seth Grahame-Smith talk at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Why there? Because on Tuesday he released his newest book, Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter. You may be more familiar with his best-selling mash-up Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

He was so personable and [Keep reading...]]]>

Last night my friend, Mrs Shoo, and I went to see Seth Grahame-Smith talk at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Why there? Because on Tuesday he released his newest book, Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter. You may be more familiar with his best-selling mash-up Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

He was so personable and funny! His story about the how Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter came to be actually seems quite logical. Last summer was Abe’s 200th birthday so it seemed like every time he went into a book store there would be a table up front with every book about Abe you could imagine. It was also the summer of Twilight… which means that right next to Abe table was a vampire table. And after seeing this on multiple occasions he decided to combine the two.

So he read up about Lincoln (without ever visiting Springfield making his trip to my hometown all that more fun!) and read as much as he could that was written by Honest Abe so that he could pick up his style. He also decided to take vampires back to their roots. No sparkling. No falling in love. Just kill or be killed. He started with an outline (he says the book would end up about whales if he didn’t lol) and puts on his iTunes playlist filled with soundtracks. He has them sorted by mood which I think is brilliant. (His favorite movie soundtrack is Snow Falling on Cedars.)

I think the best questions of the night were:  “How do you feel about all the mash-ups coming out after P&P&Z?” to which he said that it was a fad and that he thinks it will pass and “Is this going to be made into a movie?” and YES it is! He will be writing the adaption himself and Tim Burton is one of the producers. FYI Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is also being made into a film starring Natalie Portman as Elizabeth!!

Not only did I have fun listening to Seth,but I got my copy of Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter signed AND I got a copy of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies signed for one lucky reader!!

Just leave a comment telling me which

you think would be easier to kill

a mob of zombies or a vampire!!

+1 for tweeting (pls include link or twitter name)

+3 for posting on your blog (pls include site url)

US only (Sorry!) Ends 11:59pm 3.13.10

[Story Title] The Iron King

[Author] Julie Kagawa

[First Sentences]

Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.

No, he didn’t leave. Leaving would imply suitcases and empty drawers, and late birthday cards with ten-dollar bills stuffed inside.

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

Yes! I cannot [Keep reading...]]]> Hosted By : Well-Read Reviews

[Story Title] The Iron King

[Author] Julie Kagawa

[First Sentences]

Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.

No, he didn’t leave. Leaving would imply suitcases and empty drawers, and late birthday cards with ten-dollar bills stuffed inside.

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

Yes! I cannot wait to read this! I’m hoping to start (and finish) this Sunday night. Also, I’m really starting to hate doing this meme on Fridays. The one day a week I work doubles…

Don’t forget to enter my

How Do You Like Your Vampire giveaway!!

have passed on and to give them out to blogs I adore!!

Stacey from Say Something Stacey has been an amazing blogger friend of mine since I started my 101 blog almost a year ago. Please head over and check out [Keep reading...]]]> I’m so honored to post about some awards my friends

have passed on and to give them out to blogs I adore!!

Stacey from Say Something Stacey has been an amazing blogger friend of mine since I started my 101 blog almost a year ago. Please head over and check out her awesome blog!

The rules for this award are-

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog

2. List who gave you the award and their link

3. List 10 things that make you happy

4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and let them know

Ten Things That Make Me Happy (in no particular order)

• READING
• Shane (the hubs)
• Luna (the cat)
• My Family
• My Friends
• Shopping
• Yoga
• Running
• Tattoo (must not get a new one…)
• Blogging
• Sleeping Late

I’m passing this on to 3 of my blog favs:

Rachie @ And the Plot Thickens…

Jennifer @ Reading with Tequila

Amanda @ Redefinition Mission

I also received this lovely award from Jennifer from Reading with Tequila! I came across her personal blog while doing my 101 in 1001 Challenge and instantly followed her book blog. If you haven’t checked her out yet, please do!! Be warned this woman reads so many books a month it makes me feel like a slacker

I’m passing this award on to these {heart} worthy blogs:

1. Alita @ Alita.Reads
2. Brooke @ Brooke Reviews
3. Natalie @ Mindful Musings
4. Rachel @ Parajunkee’s View
5. Jessica @ Book Bound
6. Padfoot & Prongs @ Padfoot and Prongs

Thank you so much ladies!!

PLEASE let me know what you think!

This book in 6 words: combining my loves : vampires and microbiology

Why did I read this?

I came across a post about Peeps by Scott Westerfield while [Keep reading...]]]> I’m trying out a new format for this review.

PLEASE let me know what you think!

This book in 6 words: combining my loves : vampires and microbiology

Why did I read this?

I came across a post about Peeps by Scott Westerfield while reading VampChix. I only skimmed the post finding out that it was a YA vampire novel with a science spin. I added it to my TBR list and requested it from the library. I had no idea I was about to read one of my all time favorite books. DISCLAIMER: I am a complete science nerd with a microbiology degree which probably highly influenced my giving the book a five star rating. However, I think that I would have given it at least 4 stars even if I wasn’t a huge nerd.

Brief Summary

A year ago, Cal Thompson was brand new to New York City and more interested in meeting girls than attending freshman biology. Then he spent the night with a mysterious woman named Morgan. Now, biology has become, literally, Cal’s life. Cal was infected by a parasite that has a horrifying effect on its host. When you’re a parasite positive, a “peep”, you start to hate sunlight. You develop superhuman strength and superhuman senses. Your form a strange bond with rats. You crave blood – human blood. Cal is not a full-blown peep, but a carrier: infected but still sane, still able to control his urges. His tragedy: He can never be with a girl again… But when an investigation throws him together with a beautiful girl named Lace, Cal’s resolve to live his life alone is put to the test. – via inside cover

Plot/Pacing/Place

I LOVED this take on vampirism (a term rarely even used in the book)! This idea that a parasite could turn a human into something more is actually likely. The book alternates between chapters about the main characters and chapters about parasites. I’m not sure which were scarier… probably the science ones. Scott Westerfield did his research (there is even a bibliography in the back). The parasites and diseases talked about ARE REAL! As a microbio nerd I really enjoyed how entertaining he made science. You do not have to be a science nerd to appreciate these chapters!

The story itself was fast-pasted and wonderfully pieced together. The twists will keep you guessing rounding out with an ending I didn’t see coming. Cal starts with having to track down turned ex-girlfriends. This leads to an apartment building that seems to have had some kind of disaster involving four apartments. It’s this investigation that brings him close to Lace and reveals secrets that have been buried for generations.

Characters

I really like Cal as a narrator. He is intelligent, funny, and tragically confused about why this has all happened to him. Lace is also a great character (although she probably could have said “dude” less…). The members of the agency Cal works for, Night Watch, are also well-written and interesting.

Recommendations

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sci-fi, paranormal, horror, or science mystery book!! Like I said before you do NOT have to be a science nerd to love this story. It wasn’t overly gory, but it did keep me on the edge of my seat. It’s not often that I finish a book and want to search out other series by the author (and not just other books in the series). I have already requested other books from Scott Westerfield from the library.

Going Deeper

While the book is primarily about the parasite and its hosts, I felt like there was a lot about will-power and doing what you have to for the greater good. Cal is forbidden to even kiss another human. As a carrier, he can still pass the parasite via sex or saliva. Oh and the parasite knowing this makes him super horny. He not only joins the Night Watch and hunts down his old exs, he agrees to never be with another person ever again. This is a huge sacrifice that I don’t think many people would attempt. He didn’t choose this life and yet he is giving his all to secretly save humanity.

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

Blogs Participating in Tattoo Tuesday:

Padfoot & Prongs @ Good Books Inc

Anna contacted me with her amazing literary tattoo. The quote, placement, and font are all beautiful! [Keep reading...]]]> Do you have a literary tattoo? I’d love to feature it!

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

Blogs Participating in Tattoo Tuesday:

Padfoot & Prongs @ Good Books Inc

Anna contacted me with her amazing literary tattoo. The quote, placement, and font are all beautiful! (click to enlarge)

My literary tattoo is from Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle and is my own personal mantra.  The book speaks volumes to me, and is my go-to comfort book.  It speaks volumes to me and has given me the strength to work my way through the different heartbreaks that come in life. The original quote is “I love you. I love you. I love you.” and is the last words we see in the novel.  In the film version of I Capture the Castle the quote is changed to “I love. I have loved. I will love.”  I love this quote, and I chose it because it’s a personal mantra of mine and speaks on all levels- about love and resilience, and about strength.  When Cassandra, the protagonist’s journey ends she has just said no to a Happily Ever After with the man she loves, for many different reasons, one of which being that she is his second choice.  When she says this it as though she is saying that everything is going to be okay, and although things seem to be bad at the moment, life moves on.  She loves.  She has loved before, and she will love again.  She is loving and full of love and she will never give up.  This, I think is Cassandra’s way of keeping her chin up, and handling her heartbreak in the most grace and dignity she can.  These things mean so much to me because as I go throughout my life I wish to handle the negative situations that life hands us with the same grace and resilience and dignity.  I went with a typewriter font and lowercase letters because it’s what made the most sense to me and it’s how I felt that this message should be read- in a calm, factual manner.

Thank you so much Anna for letting me share your tattoo!!

based on the book of the same title by Rick Riordan

Rating * *

Last nigh I went to see The Lightning Thief movie with my dad. We both read the book this week and were looking forward to what [Keep reading...]]]> Percy Jackson and the Olympians : The Lightning Thief (2010)

based on the book of the same title by Rick Riordan

Rating * *

Last nigh I went to see The Lightning Thief movie with my dad. We both read the book this week and were looking forward to what we had heard was a good movie. I’m not sure if we didn’t like it because it was so different from the book or if we just didn’t care for it. I’m thinking it’s because we liked the book so much more. You can find my review of the book here.

The movie introduces us to Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon. After being attacked while on a field trip, he is forced to travel to Camp Half-Blood. It is here that Hades contacts him wanting Zeus’ missing weapon, the lightning bolt. So Percy sneaks out with friends, Grover and Annabeth, tagging along. With a fellow camper’s help they learn that they must first find Demeter’s three pearls so that they can escape the Underworld once they go there. From here they travel across America searching for the pearls and fighting monsters.

First of all, in the book he doesn’t run away from camp. He is actually sent on a quest. Secondly, his quest is not to find the pearls.

There are missing scenes which is normal, however, some were important to the book’s plot. There are missing character’s (like who actually had the lightning bolt and who really wanted it!!). I didn’t mind that the character’s were older in the movie than the book. And the acting wasn’t too bad. There were some bigger name actors than what I expected. I haven’t read the second book in the series yet so I’m not sure if they will be able to add in these missing details in a sequel or if they are just completely changing the story.

Have you read the book and seen the movie? Were you disappointed?

Have you seen the movie without reading the book? What did you think?

Next Blogger To Be Stalked : Jessica @ Book Bound

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