Midnight Book Girl

Book STD: The Meme that Shares!

2013-06-05T11:59:00.000-04:00

Have you ever read a book that was so good, you just had to share it with your friends? Then you might have a Book STD! The purpose of this meme is to share a book that you want everyone you know to read, or share a review of a book that your friends made you read. Each month you can come here and add your linky. and have a chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate from Amazon or a book of up to equal value from the Book Depository. To qualify, you just need to use one of the picture Book STD pictures in your post, and leave a link below.

This month, since it's not going up on the 1st and I'll be in NYC at BEA until after June 1st, the linky will be valid until June 5th. You may enter as often as you feature a Book STD post, just leave a separate entry. This is a blog hop, because I want us visiting other blogs and leaving comments, and I will occasionally be picking random surprise winners for those that really make an effort to be social! These prizes may be bookmarks, books, or other bookish type gifts. You do not have to follow anyone (even me!) to qualify for either the monthly giveaway or the random comment wins.

If you are featuring a book you want your friends to read, then explain why you think they'll love it. If you are reviewing a book that someone made you read, tell us who that friend(s) is/are (although they do not have to be book bloggers).

May Book STD 5-3-13 thru 6-5-13

My BEA Two Cents

2013-05-20T15:27:00.002-04:00

Some of you might have heard of this little blogger/author/publishing event called BEA, or BookExpo America. Some of you might be sick and tired of hearing about all of us bloggers who are going to BEA and blowing up your reader with post after post of BEA tips and experiences. To my readers that fall in that category, I'm sorry, because this is that kind of post. But I urge you to check out Armchair BEA, which helped me through the years I couldn't go to BEA.

Last year was my first year at BEA and I have to tell you the experience was AMAZING! I was so fortunate to be able to go- in large part because when I told my friend and fellow blogger, Kim, about the event she literally made it happen. I've always wanted to go but it seemed too expensive (it is pricey, but the memories are priceless) and too much work to figure out on my own. With Kim, and our friend Steph, we made our plans. I found two awesome Canadian roommates, Cindy and Kellie, to share a hotel room with Kim and me. Suddenly the price for BEA was a lot more within my price range.

4 women, lots of clothes, hundreds of books!

The room was tiny, but the hotel staff and breakfast was awesome. Plus it helped that even though we had a small room, we all hit it off really well. Pick good roommates. If you don't know them ahead of time, get to know them. The four of us skyped several times before BEA, and in that way Kim and I were already friends with Cindy and Kellie before arriving in NYC. This year I get to stay with an amazing friend and blogger, Pam, of Midnyte Reader. I am so lucky!!!

The Javits Center is huge, and you will be overwhelmed when you walk in. But no fear, because there are thousands of your people there. That's right, we are book bloggers, sisters and brothers of the BOOK. Those who have been there before are happy to share tips with you. It's the closest thing to utopia that you will experience on earth. Just don't be an ass and you should be fine. Smile, be polite, and I promise you that you will meet people that will reaffirm your faith in humanity. Bookworms are the very best kinds of people.

So, what do you need to survive BEA? Here's a list:

COMFORTABLE shoes. Everyone says this, and everyone is right.
Some cash- to park your rolling suitcases and to use in the non-ticketed signing area.
Business card- bring a lot, pass them around. Also, there are apps you can download on your phone so that you can scan business cards, which I plan on using if some bloggers only have a few cards.
Rolling suitcase- check it in, and fill it up throughout the day. I should have made more stops last year but I was worried I would miss stuff on the floor. Here's the thing- you are going to miss stuff unless you've got a timeturner. The beautiful thing about this is that other books will find you when you least expect it.
Play nicely! There are always going to be some snobduches at BEA, don't let them get you down! Keep on smiling, 99% of people there will be awesome, so you be awesome too.
Bring snacks and a small water bottle- especially if you're on a budget. The prices are high at the Javits Center, but it's the same if you go to any event. Last year I brought a big bottle of water and it weighed a ton. There are water fountains, so it's fine to bring a small bottle and re-fill.
Wear comfortable clothes! I suggest going business casual, especially if you're planning on talking to any of the publishing professionals. Just like a job interview, they will take you more seriously if you're not wearing a tank top and shorts. Unless you have a body like Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Aniston and can make a torn sheet look classy....
BEA is a marathon, not a sprint! Don't panic, even if you miss a book drop one day, another chance may come along. There is never, ever, ever, any reason to run, shove, or frog leap over your fellow BEA attendees... unless you're playing leap frog, but honestly, I wouldn't do that on the floor.
Apologize when you bump into people. Apologize if people bump into you. It never hurts to be overly polite. Also be nice to the Power Readers that come the last day of BEA, even if they're clueless. Some of them are librarians and teachers, most just really love books and don't understand how BEA works. One Power Reader did me a solid last year, and it really helped my attitude.
If you don't know, ask. Sometimes it's hard to know if a book is available to be picked up, so it's better to ask. If the book isn't available, try to chat up the publisher, show interest and you never know what will happen!
If you're mailing books, unless you have money to burn, just take it to the post office. Bring lots of tape!!! Send it media mail, which is ridiculously cheap. I was dreading the trip to the post office, but it was actually a great experience. We ran into some fellow bloggers, the employees were really helpful, and it was easier than I could have imagined. It's hard to let your book babies go, so I suggest traveling with your must read ARCs. But seriously, tape the shiz out of those boxes like you were preparing them for mummification.
The first day at BEA will be crazy and you'll get lost a million times if it's your first time there. By the third day, the venue will seem small and you'll know where everything is. I promise!
Listen to everyone's tips and advice, and then do what works for you!

And finally look for me!

Sundays in Bed With... Sweet Salt Air

2013-05-19T08:40:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Sundays In Bed With... Meme! The meme that dares to ask, what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you've spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

This morning I'm reading:

Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

This is actually an ARC and doesn't come out until June 18th, but I have a feeling I'm going to see a lot of copies of this book when I go to the beach in August. It has that beach read feeling- and one of the main characters is a food blogger (she's always taking pictures of food before eating it, which totally reminded me of taking pictures of books with drinks when I read at Panera or Starbucks). I'm just a few chapters in, and although it's not a type of book I normally read, I'm surprised by how much I'm liking it. Ultimately it's a book about friendship, and I think as we age- especially once we hit our 30's- we start to truly appreciate what a gift true friendship is. Also the book takes place on an island off of Maine and now I'm worried that Fenwick Island in Delaware is not going to compare well when it comes time for vacation. There should be a special island just for book bloggers to vacation at, and every little cottage should have a well stocked library. And we should only have to pay what we can afford to pay in order to vacation there. Someone smarter and hardworking then me- look into this!

I'm also finishing up Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (less than 50 pages to go!) and I think if I power through today I can finish the last 5 hours of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss so that my Bout of Books won't be a complete failure.

Be sure to check out and participate in my Book STD challenge!

What are you reading (or wish you had time to read) this morning? Are you reading the book you thought you'd be reading, or has today found you with a surprise? Link up below! I'm going to try running this more like a blog hop, so feel free to add the link in your meme posts!

S'up?

2013-05-18T08:11:00.002-04:00

I've been soooo neglectful lately of my blog. I'm reading, but I haven't been keeping up with reviews or other blogs like I should. I've been working a lot, and... I've been watching a lot of HLN and following the Jodi Arias case because I am a trial junkie and I can no longer deny it. The downside is that this trial has been going on for months now, and even though it's in the penalty phase, it's still being drawn out.

But as of today, and thru the rest of this month, I will be posting something book related EVERY DAY! It's okay, you can be impressed. ;) Consider it a countdown to my BEA trip, when I get to hang with so many of you bookish lovelies!!

So, I'm sort of doing Bout of Books, although my goals have gone out the window. Here's what I'm reading:

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, which is amazing!

I'm listening to The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I'm going to be featuring it as part of my Book STD feature, which you have to check out. There's a giveaway and only 2 entries so far! All you have to do is review a book that a friend made you read, or feature a book you want everyone in the world to read. This will be a monthly giveaway.

This week I need to pack for BEA, because a week from tomorrow I head to New York!! I'm taking my very first train trip, so I'm very excited about it (let's ignore the train accident that happened up North recently, okay?).

I'm also turning 36 this month, on May 22nd. I am less excited about this, but I do love birthdays.

So, dear ones, what is up with you?

Bout of Books: I Feel the Need, the Need to Read!

2013-05-12T20:46:00.000-04:00

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.

- From the Bout of Books team

I'm in! Here are my goals:

Finish Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Finish The Name of the Wind (audio) by Patrick Rothfuss

Read a Christopher Pike book, make an update/link post for my challenge

Read at least 1 book off my TBR shelf.

Cull my bookshelves so I have room for all the BEA goodness I will be bringing home in June.

Update all my challenges

Write a review a day

Schedule posts for when I'll be at BEA

~~Figure out the BEA app for my phone~~ I finally figured it out!
And LOTS of commenting! I've been a slacker for months!

Basically, just kick book ass all week long! ;)

Sundays in Bed With... The Name of the Wind

2013-05-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

This morning I'm reading:

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Hubs actually asked me if I'd read this, because one of his employees mentioned it to him as being a book I might like if I enjoyed George R. R. Martin books. I downloaded it on Audible, and folks, it's a loooong book. I'm 5 hours in, with 22 more hours to go. But, I have to say, I'm really enjoying it. It's similar to Martin only in that it's a complex fantasy novel. It's a very easy listen, so it's not as daunting as a long book can be.

Be sure to check out and participate in my Book STD challenge!

Night School (Night School #1) Review

2013-05-09T20:08:00.000-04:00

Night School (Night School #1)
by C.J. Daughtery
Genre: YA
Format: ARC received through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest opinion. I do not get to keep a copy of the books.
Midnight Minute: Allie's parents send her to the mysterious Cimmeria Academy after Allie gets arrested... again. But it's not the curriculum that's proving hard for Allie, it's staying alive.
Expected Publication: 05.21.13
From Goodreads:

Allie's world is falling apart...

She hates her school. Her brother has run away. And she's just been arrested.

Again.

Now her parents are sending her away to a boarding school where she doesn't know a soul.

But instead of hating her new school, Allie finds she's happy there. She's making friends. And then there's Sylvain, a suave French student who openly flirts with her. And Carter, the brooding loner who seems to have her back.

Soon, though, Allie discovers Cimmeria Academy is no ordinary school. Nothing there is as it seems. And her new friends are hiding dangerous secrets.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ This book was not what I thought it was going to be about, and I'm so thankful for that! I was honestly a little worried it would be another House of Night or Vampire Academy type series, however Daugherty keeps things nice and mysterious.
~ Since her brother disappeared, Allie has been acting out, and after another arrest her parents ship her off to Cimmeria Academy.
~ I really wish that I wasn't about to turn 36, or that there was a boarding school for adults, because ya'll, I would totally sign up to go! Cimmeria Academy is no Hogwarts, but it's somewhere, hidden, in England!
~ Bad sign: when the boarding school you're attending is in a secret location and there's no cell phones, iPods or laptops allowed. That's right, Cimmeria Academy students should learn to be grateful just for electricity. Actually, I kind of like this idea, because with today's instant media culture, no doubt there'd be tweets and youtube videos of all that mysterious "Night School" society.
~ The vast majority of the kids at the boarding school are legacy students, so Allie garners a lot of attention, speculation and her fair share of distrust for not being legacy.
~ The Night School is, as explained to Allie, a secret group of "advanced" students. Hmmkay...
~ Allie has to do detention in the cemetery that's on the school grounds. That does not sound as horrifying to me as it might to some of my more "normal" readers. ;)
~ There's two boys, the broody Carter and the charming Sylvain. Guess which one is the main boy!
~ Carter is a scholarship student, as his now deceased parents worked for the school before they died. Which adds to Carter's dark broodiness.
~ Mysterious growling? Human-sounding footsteps? How are we not thinking werewolf, Allie?! Seriously, were-wolf. The description you just gave of what chased you and Jo? Text book definition of an effing werewolf!!
~ As the mystery deepens, I become aware of the fact that this book is not going to go down the normal YA Paranormal path. Oh, no, readers, Daugtherty is going all Dan Brown on your butts!
~ Jo teaches Allie how to play chess in the common room, which makes Jo Allie's Ron. So does that make Gabe her Hermione? lol
~ Allie visits the school chapel, which has poetry in many languages decorating the walls. Love that!! Sounds amazing.
~ Uh, oh, Jo is acting weird. Or not. Really, Allie, we barely know this girl.
~ Yeah, that's the second time I spoke to the character like she could hear me. This book made me do that several times, and I see no reason not to share that tidbit with you. At times it was like, "No, Allie! Don't go by yourself in the dark, deadly woods/attic/basement/etc!" Sadly, she did not always listen to me.
~ Even though I got the feeling immediately that Carter was endgame, there were several cute moments with Sylvain and Allie. Until...
~ SPOILER (highlight to read): The author has Sylvain do something so completely awful that despite her best efforts is IRREDEEMABLE. This really made me upset, because I liked his character, and while I expected him to be revealed to be a jerk, what he actually did should have had him down at the police station recovering from the beat down the cops gave him with their little sticks.   You can't come back from that. Well, I guess you can, because I used to watch soap operas and two of my favorite male leads (Jack on Days, Todd on OLTL and GH) were magically cured rapists, but I don't think YA is the place for this. No, there's no rape, but Sylvain still does something very unforgivable.
~ There's so much tension between Sylvain and Carter throughout the book, which normally has my eyes rolling, but not so much in this book. I got why she was attractive to both boys, and not everyone in school was trying to get in her pleated skirt (actually, I can't remember if she wore a pleated skirt as part of her school uniform, but you get my drift, right?).
~ There should be more kissing whilst pressed against walls in this world. I promise there would be less wars and violence. Possibly more babies and chapped lips, though...
~ I flip-flopped teams several times until the spoiler thing happened, and I still wish that hadn't happened. Sigh.
~ Skinny dipping is "wholesome" fun! lol And I envision the CW is already in line to make this into a tv show.
~ Oh, Allie. I have panic attacks when I'm naked all the time. ;)
~ The dance does NOT GO AS PLANNED.
~ So, the Night School was slowly revealed, and trust me peeps, it was not what I thought it was. I felt a bit like Vizzini in The Princess Bride shouting, "Inconceivable!" and Daugherty was all like, "Midnight Book Girl, I do not think the Night School is what you think it is!" Well played, author, well played.
~ I have lots more notes, but I can't share anymore with you without majorly spoiling the book. Trust me though, this is like the Da Vinci Code for the YA set to a certain degree, maybe a bit more gothic, a bit less complicated.

Timeless Characters:

Allie- our heroine, reeling from her brother's disappearance and acting out, finds herself at a mysterious boarding school stuck between two hotties.
Carter- Bachelor #1, step right up! Broody, hot mess boy. Only he's not that broody or hot mess-ish. Secretive.
Sylvain- French hottie, charming. Carter is not his biggest fan, and the two boys are pages away of having a dance off for Allie's hand.
Isabelle- the headmistress of Cimmeria Academy.
Christopher- Allie's missing brother.
Jo- Allie's first real friend at boarding school.
Gabe- Jo's boyfriend, possible a Night School member.
Katie- red-headed wenchy girl, hates Allie, wants Sylvain.
Jules- prefect, friend to Katie.
Mr. Zelazny- history teacher (but he's pretty much the Mr. Filch of the story).
Lucas- Jo's ex, part of Allie's new friends.
Rachel- gossipy new friend
Lisa, Ruth, Phil- more friends. Don't get attached. o.0
Eloise- the school librarian.
Mr. Ellison- I think he's the groundskeeper. He oversees the cemetery detention.
Clare- Carter's ex.
Lucinda- mystery woman.
Nathaniel- mysterious mothereffer.
Mark and Harry- Allie's London friends. I've recorded their names, but you don't need to. They are but a blip on the radar, my dears. OR are they? (see, Daugherty, I can mess with readers too! ;)

Midnight Moment:

I realized that some shiz would go down at the dance. One expects that. I did not expect the shiz storm that was unleashed. Some of it bothered me (Sylvain) and some of it shocked me a bit because I didn't realize this book was going to be that... intense?

Stop The Clock:

Is this a perfect book? Nope. There's a few bumps in the road to a full on Midnight Read, including some truly difficult suspensions of belief, characters acting outside of their established personalities, convenient information supplied by characters who previously had been barely mentioned the first 200 pages or so, BUT, there's promise here. I really liked that the book surprised me. I really liked that Allie didn't hold onto her whole "teenage rebel" thing that I figured would only continue at boarding school. I'm very intrigued with where this book is going, and even though some mystery has been answered, there's lots more to be revealed! I am in this one for the long haul.

Goodreads also shows this as a possible cover:

But the ARC I was sent had the cover I include with the synopsis. I probably prefer the top one, just because I think it invokes the mystery of the novel a bit more. What do ya'll think?

C.J. Daugherty — Website |C.J Daugherty
So, book 2 is already out in the U.K.? Um, need it! Plus that cover is Ah-mazing.

Night School (Night School #1) gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

Sundays In Bed With... What's a Ghoul to Do?

2013-05-05T01:47:00.000-04:00

This morning I'm reading:

What's A Ghoul to Do? (A Ghost Hunter Mystery #1) by Victoria Laurie.

So far, so good, but the chapters seem sooooo long. I guess I've been reading a lot of books with short chapters lately? And listening to audiobooks, so I don't even really notice how long the chapters are.

I just finished Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga, and OMG did it end on a serious cliffhanger! Actually, it ended in like 3 different major cliffhangers. I am dying!

Also, because I listened to Game on audio, and Testimony by Anita Shreve recently, I finally learned that I've been pronouncing Hachette wrong for years. I feel like an idiot. Granted, I often feel this way, so I guess no biggie. ;)

All You Need is Readathon: Update #5 (and the last!)

2013-04-28T08:04:00.000-04:00

I am feeling as tired as the Beatles here:

JUST KIDDING! Since I turned a simple nap into a SLEEPATHON! It's sad really, but I'll read a few hours today and cheer my cats and dog on to make up for not being awake in the late night hours.

So far I've read:
Bunnicula Strikes Again (Bunnicula #6) by James Howe In My Dreams by Sarah Addionson Allen Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3) by Molly Harper Stieg Larsson's The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo Vol. 1 (graphic novel) by Denise Mina, Leonardo Manco, and Andrea Mutti

Right now I'm reading:
Still listening to Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga

Challenges done so far:
Challenge 1 : Introduction
Challenge 2: Book Spine P oetry
Challenge 3: Book Appetit!
Challenge 4: Re-title Your Current Read Challenge 5: Self-Portrait
Challenge 6: Book Puzzle Challenge 7: Best and Worst Book Covers
Challege 16: Turn the Page
Mid-Event Survey
1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
I was tired, but I took a short nap. I didn't sleep good last night, so I needed it. I imagine I'll need another one if I don't get some caffeine soon! The Hubs is bringing me home a Coke.
2) What have you finished reading?
I finished 3 audiobooks: Bunnicula Strikes Again by James Howe, In My Dreams by Sarah Addison Allen, and Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper.
3) What is your favorite read so far?
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever. Molly Harper is hilarious!
4) What about your favorite snacks?
The Archer Farms Dark Chocolate Expresso Trail Mix. Yummy in my tummy!
5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!
Under My Apple Tree

End of Event Meme

Which hour was most daunting for you? Probably the ones I slept through, but lets not talk about them!
Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Any books by Molly Harper, and audiobooks!!!
Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? More chocolate!
What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I thought this was one of the best run readathons I've participated in yet! Great job everyone. Cheerleading went particularly well, I think!
How many books did you read? 3 audiobooks and 1 graphic novel, over 1/3 of another audiobook.
What were the names of the books you read? Bunnicula Strikes Again, In My Dreams, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo graphic novel Vol.1, and over 1/3 of Game (Jasper Dent #2).
Which book did you enjoy most? Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper.
Which did you enjoy least? In My Dreams by Sarah Addison Allen, but that's 99% because I didn't like the audiobook narrator.
If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? Just tweet cheers too, especially in the later hours!
How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? 100% likely!!!! I'll do what I did this time, cheer, host a mini-challenge and listen to audiobooks.

What I've eaten:
Sleep, I ate sleep, people.
Now I'm gonna drink coffee.

A running tally:
Graasland
A Dragon's Love
Ciska's Book Chest
Kate's Book Nook
Leeswammer's Blog

For your viewing pleasure:

All Your Readathon Are Belong to Us: Update #4

2013-04-28T06:09:00.000-04:00

I may be a little drunk on words, ya'll. Drunk on them, I say!

So far I've read:
Bunnicula Strikes Again (Bunnicula #6) by James Howe
In My Dreams by Sarah Addionson Allen
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3) by Molly Harper
Stieg Larsson's The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo Vol. 1 (graphic novel) by Denise Mina, Leonardo Manco, and Andrea Mutti
AND THEN I FELL ASLEEP!!!

Right now I'm reading:
Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga- audio
Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris- finishing the last 100 pages or so!

What I've eaten:
Papa John's Pizza!
Coke!
Water!
Chocolate Chip Cookies!

A running tally:
Curiousity Killed the Bookworm
Stella Mutatina
Reflections of a Bookaholic

For your viewing pleasure:

Three's a Readathon: Update #3

2013-04-27T19:23:00.002-04:00

It's that time again. You know you want to know how my readathon is going! I won't keep you in suspense! I also took a short nap and co-hosted the Book Sentence challenge.

So far I've read:
Bunnicula Strikes Again (audio) by James Howe
In My Dreams (audio) by Sarah Addison Allen
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3) (audio) by Molly Harper

Right now I'm reading:
The Game (Jasper Dent #2) (Audio) by Barry Lyga

What I've eaten:
I ate a lot between the last update to this one! I had some Twizzlers, Spinach-Cheese pastry puff thingys, and some of my Ritter bar. Drank some more water.

Also, ordered a pizza.

*hangs head in pretend shame because I'm actually okay with this since Readathon is like a nerdy holiday and it doesn't count!*

A running tally:
Lisa's World of Books
Pinkindle
Faith, Hope and Cherrytea
Reading My Way Through Life
Musings of a Bookshop Girl
Chasing Quills
A Friendly Journey
The Reading Date
Just One More Thing
Wilder Than
Perpetualspiral's Book Reviews
Bookish Outsider
My Little Pocketbooks
Katzenjammer
Read, Rinse, Repeat
Under My Apple Tree
Ann Kristin
Letter4No1
Fiction State of Mind
My World in English
Leather Journal Thoughts

For your viewing pleasure:

For my Readathoners who are at the midnight hour.

Readathon Book Sentence Mini-Challenge Hour 8

2013-04-27T14:45:00.000-04:00

Hosted by myself and the amazing Fake Steph!

Examples:

The Good Fairies of New York Loop Garden Spells Into the Dark

When She Was Bad, Scarlett Burned Whitethorn Woods.

To be qualified to win, you must link up before the end of the mini-challenge (6pm EST or before the beginning of hour 11).

As the Readathon Turns: Update #2

2013-04-27T14:23:00.000-04:00

It's update the second, and I still have snacks left to devour and books to read that I actually believe I'll get to. It's all rose-tinted in this reader's world, baby! How about you? Twitter is where the party is at, so be sure to stop by and say hello using #readathon. Let's get trending. We take over Twitter, than the world!

Wooh. May need to ease off on the coffee.

So far I've read:
Bunnicula Strikes Again (audio) by James Howe
In My Dreams (audio) by Sarah Addison Allen

Right now I'm reading:
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3) (audio) by Molly Harper

What I've eaten:
Since breakfast I've opened up the Twizzlers and guzzled some water. But my eye is on my Archer Farms Dark Chocolate Expresso Trail Mix... okay, a very generous portion is now residing in my tum tum, sitting somewhat uneasily with the vast amount of pull n'peel Twizzlers. Ugh.

A running tally:
Down the Writer's Path: late, late, late for an important date!
What's To Say: Cheering on livejournal, it doesn't get any realer than this, midnighters!
The Estella Society- had to take a selfie, got creative!
The Daily Bookmark- Jess is reading whilst injured (brutal allergies), go and cheer her up!
One Librarian's Book Reviews- Book puzzles are awesome!!

For your viewing pleasure:

Ra-Ra-Readathon Update #1

2013-04-27T10:46:00.001-04:00

It's time to update and the time has been flying by!! It's hard to believe that Readathon, or Readathong as my fingers KEEP insisting on typing, it already 2 hours old. But there you have it. I'll be updating every once in awhile, but not every hour. So here's what's been going on:

So far I've read:
Bunnicula Strikes Again (audio) by James Howe

Right now I'm reading:
In My Dreams (audio) by Sarah Addison Allen

Challenges done so far:
Challenge 1 : Introduction
Challenge 2: Book Spine Poetry
Challenge 3: Book Appetit!
Challenge 4: Re-title Your Current Read
Challenge 5: Self-Portrait

What I've eaten:

Why say it when I can show it?

Also, some Oikos Greek yogurt- Fruit on the Bottom, Black Cherry because I have to at least make an attempt to hold off on all the chocolate. Right?

A running tally:
I kind of forgot to do this in the beginning, so several early blogs are missing. My bad.
Two Canadian Bloggers- Confirming that Canadians are indeed magical! ;)
Midnyte Reader- my NY angel! Or devil, it remains to be seen. ;)
Geeky Bloggers Book Blog- Reading for charity! Go leave a comment!
The Bookish Outsider- adorableness!
Scruffed Slippers and Wormy Books- Book Spine Poetry!!!
Book Journey: Made me want to snack!

For your viewing pleasure:

My Harry Potter Tattoo (I have it on both toes)

Alexander Skarsgard, showering. Or Eric Northman, because why bother to pretend he's a mere mortal.

And I won a prize!!!! I picked Yelena's Black Dance of Shadows because that is a book cover that must live on my shelves!!

Readathon is On Like Donkey Kong

2013-04-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

On your mark, get set, Readathon!

Challenge 1

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

Richmond, VA!
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

It's a tie between Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper and Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Oooh, the mini-quiches I'm nomming on now and my Ritter bar.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I love the World Cup, and by that I mean soccer, since that's the only that matters. ;)
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

The last few readathons I've spent with some of my blogger friends. We don't get much reading done, but it's a lot of fun! This time I'm on my own. And instead of reading a lot of physical books, I'm listening to audiobooks so that I can focus on cheering and being social online. As always, I'm most looking forward to co-hosting Hour 8 mini-challenge- so come back later!!

Challenge #2

Book Spine Poetry @ Scuffed Slippers and Wormy Books

The girl with the dragon tattoo,

soulless,

unbreakable.

Darker still,

death proof.

Pushing the limits

into the dark,

the suburban strange.

Challenge #3

Book Appetit!

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

We'd read the book, watch and compare it to the movie!

Food:

Cactus Shaped Pancakes

Homemade syrup which we'd name Witches Brew

Ladyfingers (renamed Dead Man Fingers)

Soup served in a cauldron

Drinks:

Midnight Margaritas!

Created Drink:

Love Potion #9 (basically I'd mix Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka mixed with Orange Juice because it's delicious)

Challenge #4

Re-Title Your Current Read

Retitled:

Vampire Bunny Seeking Fanged Birth Mom

Challenge #6

Book Puzzle

Hint: It's a book by one of my favorite authors and it came out last year. ;)

Challenge #7
Best and Worst Covers
I'm reading the graphic novel for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, so here's the worst and best covers:

Oh, dear God, this cover makes me want to poke my eyes out too, statue man!

This is effed up. And not in a good way. Why is she such a bobble head? Lisbeth Salander supposed to be kick ass, people!

This one works the best for me. I love the intensity of it. Plus, it reminds me of the the song Red Dragon Tattoo.

I'll be starting with an audiobook of Bunnicula Strikes Again by James Howe.

What's up first for you?

Here's my pile for those of you interested:

Readathon: Let the Day Begin!

2013-04-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's almost here! And I am going all Carol Ann on this shiz!

You know what I love about Readathon? It's a chance to let my nerd flag fly.

I'm on the East Coast, so I'm kicking this off at 8am. I realize some of you are starting much earlier in the day, or later in the day, or maybe it's already night where you are, but here's a song to get us going nevertheless:

Are you in, midnighters? Are you ready? Sorry for the way I am going to BLOW UP YOUR READER AND TWITTER FEED, but hopefully you find my spastic love for books and readathons endearing. I mean, I managed to link Poltergeist, nerd kitties, and an obscure 80's band I love that you've probably never heard of (unless you saw it on a past Readathon post I made) all to Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon. I also apologize for going all shouty caps at you too, but I'm that excited that lowercase letters just can't convey my feelings.

See ya in an hour, when the readathon shiz will get real and books will be read!

(okay, mostly food will get eaten and tweets will be sent, but I'll be listening to an audio book so that totally counts!)

Feature and Follow: Jem!

2013-04-25T22:39:00.001-04:00

Feature and Follow time! Hosted by the lovely Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Now it's question time!

Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?

I should write this shiz down, because sometimes I'll be listening to the perfect song that reminds me of what I'm reading and I'm like yes! But then I forget all about it. That makes me a sad panda.

Lucky for this week's question I'm reading Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris. The book is very action packed, like a awesome YA mix of X-Files and 24. Every chapter begins with a countdown of time left for the main heroine to stop major bad shiz from happening so the song that immediately pops in mind is 24 by Jem:

And of course, because of all the X-files love, David Duchovny by Bree Sharp:

Ignore the fact that Jerry Springer is in the pic, this is a MUST listen song to anyone that's ever dug Mulder and those of us that can't always (or won't) separate an actor from a role they play (Alexander Skarsgard, or should I say, Eric Northman, I'm looking at you).

Readathon Pile and General Excitement!

2013-04-25T21:55:00.000-04:00

And now for the moment you've waited months to see:

In my physical pile of books:

Night School by C. J. Daughtery

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Soulless Vol.1 by Gail Carriger

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Vol. 1 by Stieg Larsson

Amphigorey by Edward Gorey

Mostly a bunch of graphic novels, because I'll be listening to audiobooks while I cheer, tweet, host a mini-challenge at Hour 8, and basically being more social than I've been in a long time.

Here's the list of audiobooks I'll be choosing from:

Bunnicula Strikes Again! by James Howe

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga

In My Dreams by Sarah Addison Allen

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3) by Molly Harper

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I'm cheering this year, and I'm Team Owl! Hoot, Readers!

And here's some Readathon Goodies I've made in the past:

A Midnight Quickie #1

2013-04-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

This past year I've been really good about taking notes on the books I read, but sometimes I just want a quick, fun read and don't bother to take notes. Or, in the case of audiobooks, I'm listening mostly in my car and can't take notes safely. Plus, half the time I don't even know how to spell the names of characters. I've done mini-reviews in the past, but I am hereby calling them Midnight Quickies, which I know sounds mildly dirty. And I'm okay with that. ;)

"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.

But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

~ From Goodreads

Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, Larkin Reed

I listened to this audio at the beginning of the year and loved it! See that gorgeous cover? It actually matches what's inside this book. Tucker Reed narrates the audio and she really did a great job, it really felt like Sarah was telling her story. This is the first book in a series, and I'm officially hooked. Amber House reminds me of a slightly less sinister Rose Red or Overlook Hotel from Stephen King's writings, but it's got it's fair share of secrets and ghosts. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone that loves mysteries and haunted houses. I can imagine myself listening to this again before the next book comes out. Loved it!!

Amber House gets a Midnight Rating of:

World Book Night 2013

2013-04-23T09:53:00.000-04:00

Tonight is World Book Night! It's a night to get books to light to non-readers in hopes of spreading book love. Much thanks to Midnyte Reader who brought my attention to this amazing event.

I'm giving away copies of Still Alice by Lisa Genova at a local Assisted Living facility. Still Alice is about a 50 year old woman who learns that she has early on-set Alzheimers and it's told from her point of view. I work with many Alzheimer patients, and one of my clients lived at the facility that I'm passing the books out at. It's bittersweet because my client passed away last week, but I'm so grateful to be doing this in her honor. Getting people to read is amazing, helping to humanize Alzheimer patients is even better.

Books are being handed out all over the world, but here's a look at the map of USA givers:

Pretty overwhelming, eh? Thank you so much, World Book Night, for letting me be a part of this wonderful event!

The Book of Broken Hearts Review

2013-04-22T13:35:00.001-04:00

The Book of Broken Hearts
by Sarah Ockler
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: ARC received from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review, I do get to keep a copy of the book.
Midnight Minute: The summer before college Jude isn't acting in a play or hanging out with her friends, instead she's taking care of her beloved Papi and being tempted by the one boy she's sworn to hate.
Expected Publication: 05.21.13 (the day before my birthday. Coincidence? I think not!)
From Goodreads:

When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ Jude is the youngest of four girls, and the only left at home. I loved the relationship she had with her sisters and her parents, how close they all are despite the differences in ages.
~ Papi has early on-set Alzheimers, which is heart-breaking, and especially meaningful to me because I work with so many clients with cognitive impairment. I'm so glad to see it featured in books, because I really feel that it's easy to dismiss people who suffer from this disease. Ockler does an amazing job of making Papi a real person, and not just a caricature.
~ Jude's parents are originally from Argentina, and it's very much a part of this novel. It made me realize how rarely I read books that deal with different ethnic backgrounds. I kind of fell in love with the Hernandez family.
~ Oh, the Book of Broken Hearts, it's the real deal! The whole scene with the sisters, and the pledge they make against the Vargas boys felt very Practical Magic-ish and I loved every minute of it. I would die for a peek of this book!
~ Jude and Papi call his disease El Demonio, which is the perfect way to describe it.
~ Although this book does deal with Jude's evolving feelings for Emilio, it's so much more than a romance. It's really more about Jude coming to terms with her father's illness and her identity separate from her sisters.
~ Emilio won my heart when he helps Jude calm Papi down during an episode. He's not afraid or embarrassed by Papi's melt down, and it was wonderful.
~ LOL moment: when Jude says that the Vargas boys were like Hernandez Lady Kyrptonite.
~ Sad moment: How in denial Jude is in the beginning about her father's illness. Although it's completely understandable, wanting your loved one to beat an incurable disease.
~ A girl teaching a guy to drive stick shift is dead sexy!
~ My favorite line in the book is about family tragedies, how they smash everything up, but glue it back together at the same time. It was so true that it made me tear up.
~ I only have brothers, but everything I know from friends and books only confirms that sisters are extremely complicated. I both envy and am scared of Jude's relationship with her sisters. Mostly afraid.
~ Early on-set Alzheimers is genetic, and there are tests that can determine if you carry the genes. Jude and her sisters have a 50/50 chance of getting the same disease. I wish this storyline had featured a bit more, but I get that it would have definitely changed the tone of the book.
~ I also wanted more of the Vargas boys. I wanted to know what Emilio's older brothers were up to, but we don't really get to see them. I wanted to know the reasons behind their decisions to break the Hernandez sister's hearts.
~ The cover of the book is cute, but a bit generic. I think showing an actual beat up book with the title of Broken Hearts would have been better. However, this current cover should appeal to all us book lovers, right?
~ The ending was so good, bittersweet, but so good. I would love to see a sequel a few years down the road to see how the Hernandez family is, but if I don't get it I won't be upset.

Timeless Characters:

Jude- youngest sister, best daughter imaginable.
Emilio- hot Vargas brother, knows his way around a motorcycle and melts hearts on a daily basis.
Papi- an amazing man losing his memories.
Rita- Jude's wonderful mother.
The Hernandez Sisters: Lourdes, Araceli and Mariposa.
Pancake- Jude's golden retriever, her interpretations of what he's thinking are a much needed comic relief.
Zoe and Christina- Jude's friends, living the summer Jude thought she'd be having too.
Duke- Emilio's boss at Duchess Custom Cycles.
Valentina- Papi's bike.
Samuel- Emilio's friend, he calls Jude a drama llama, which cracked me up.

Midnight Moment:

4th of July, Jude and Emilio's walk in the woods and the butterscotch scented trees.

Stop The Clock:

I own Twenty Boy Summer but haven't read beyond the first chapter, but I already knew I loved her writing, and this book only confirmed that love. I can't imagine anyone not liking this book!

Sarah Ockler— Website | Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

Dare You To Review

2013-04-21T17:17:00.000-04:00

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)
by Katie McGarry
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: ARC received through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review. I do not get to keep a copy of the book.
Midnight Minute: Beth is torn from her friends and her mother, and now she has to deal with good guy Ryan, who dares her to risk opening up.
Expected Publication: 05.28.13
From Goodreads:
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

Midnight Thoughts:

~I got Pushing the Limits at BEA last year, and I enjoyed it. My friend Kim said I would love this one even more. And she was right.
~ Part of the reason I loved this book so much was Ryan. He's a good, decent boy who is dealing with many of his own issues. His relationship with his parents and his brother are very realistic. Usually the love interests in YA books are bad boys with a heart of gold that's polished to a shine by the girl next door they break all the rules to love. But Ryan is already shiny, and he actually needs Beth to help scruff him up a bit.
~ The book flips from Ryan to Beth's pov throughout the novel. I love this because you get to really see both sides of the things that go down between Beth and Ryan, and get to know both of them.
~ I thought I'd have a hard time accepting that Beth and Isiah weren't the end game they appeared to be in Pushing the Limits, but Ryan is just too hard to resist.
~ Beth's relationship with her mom is heartbreaking. She's in such denial, and she's put so much pressure on herself. I want to go all The Crow on Beth's mom when he's all like "Mother is the name of God in the lips and hearts of little children" as he's forcing the junkie mom to clean up her act for the sake of her little girl.
~ It appears that Beth's mom is also a fan of Carrie Underwood, since she goes all medieval on her douchebag boyfriend's El Camino. And of course, Beth ends up taking the blame. Which is some major bs, but if it takes her to Ryan I'll keep my mouth shut.
~ Uncle Scott comes to Beth's rescue, although she doesn't quite see it that way, and proceeds to blackmail her into moving in with him and his new wife (a very pearl-clutching type of woman, who unclenches slightly as time goes by). I strongly believe in blackmailing to get what you want. ;)
~ Beth returns with Uncle Scott to the town she was born in, and her old friend Lacy is there, still holding onto the torch of friendship. Beth is all pricklyish and angry to full appreciate Lacy, especially since Lacy dates one of Ryan's friends.
~ So even though his interest in Beth begins with a dare, I actually really enjoyed the dares the boys challenge each other to. Especially the car moving one. I almost always take Truth, since the one time I took a dare as a kid I had to french kiss a tree... before I even knew what french kissing was, so basically I licked bark.
~ Inside Beth's mom's apartment is a room that no one opens. For some reason it completely reminded me of briefcase in Pulp Fiction.
~ I liked Ryan's story line with his brother. I haven't seen the issue pop up in this way befor but I thought it was handled realistically and that both brothers were to blame for the rift.
~ I'm sorry, but I am just not buying that Beth's blonde roots really look great as they grow out (Beth dyes her hair black because she's a ball on angst inside). But since that's my biggest issue witht he book, I'll go ahead and let it go.
~ Ryan takes a dare to take Beth on a date- and we've now entered the murky waters of teen rom-coms, but I trusted to McGarry not to go all cliche on us, and she didn't.
~ It's kind of sad that the only thing Beth knows of what a good, loving relationship looks like is what she's witnessed between Echo and Noah. We do get see the two of them in this book too.
~ Ya'll are going to melt when you get to the rainwater part of the book. Seriously, puddles of swooning girls and women on the floor over it.
~ The lead up to the end was tense and bittersweet and I loved every second of it.

Timeless Characters:

Beth- are f-bombing heroine with a dark, twisty past.
Ryan- actually made baseball sexy to me, nice, hot guy.
Isiah- Beth's best friend, with the occasional benefits.
Lacy- Beth's best friend from childhood.
Chris- Ryan's dare buddy, Lacy's boydfriend.
Logan- another of Ryan's friends.
Noah and Echo- still in love and happy.
Mark- Ryan's older brother.
Gwen- Ryan's ex, bullied Beth and Lacy when they were kids. Not much has appeared to change with her.
Scott- Beth's uncle, retired baseball player.
Allison- Scott's uptight wife.
Trent- Beth's mom's evil bastard boyfriend.
Officer Monroe- think Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street.
Mrs. Rowe- Ryan's nice, if pushy, English teacher.

Midnight Moment:

So many! The barn, the bird that's trapped there which was so parallel to Beth, the pond, the rainwater... I could go on. But I won't. I need a nap.

Stop The Clock:

I can definitely recommend this, whether you've read Pushing the Limits or Not. It's mostly sweet, but it's got some heat thrown in!

Katie McGarry — Website |Katie McGarry

Dare You To gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

Sundays In Bed With... Unbreakable

2013-04-21T08:55:00.000-04:00

This morning I'm reading:

Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris

Last year I read an loved Unraveling, which filled the hole that X-Files had left in my heart. So far Unbreakable is proving to be a great 2nd novel, the action was kind of immediate and I still love how the beginning of each chapter is a countdown. I'm hoping to read a good chunk of this today. Many thanks to Wiley from Authors on the Web for sending me a copy!

I'm also picking up the books I'm giving out for World Book Night! I'm very excited to take part in this, and I will post on Tuesday my plans and what book I chose to hand out.

What are you reading (or wish you had time to read) this morning? Are you reading the book you thought you'd be reading, or has today found you with a surprise? Link up below!

Feature and Follow: Hanging with the Homies

2013-04-19T06:40:00.001-04:00

Despite all the craziness that is currently happening in Massachusetts, I'm participating in Parajunkee and Alison Can Read's Feature & Follow Friday. Today's question is:

Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

A. Wow. So many authors are running through my head, but I have to go with Stephen King, because I've wanted to hang with him since I was a kid. His books symbolized adult books, and what it meant to be a writer. I know some of his characters better than I know real life friends. His words have kept me up late at night, crying over the loss of fictional characters and started my path towards full fledged book worm. I'd just hang out with him and his wife Tabby (because she seems like she'd be cool too). Maybe play some baseball with them before heading to a cookout and talking about the Loser Club over a beer or three. And I don't even like baseball, or beer for that matter- although since it's my fantasy he'd have a few Guinness set aside just for me. Oh, and he'd give me the manuscript of the latest book he finished to "get my ideas". Hey, it's my fantasy, might as well go big, right?

Can't wait to read you're responses!

Sundays in Bed With... The Book of Broken Hearts

2013-04-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

This morning I'm reading:

I'm really liking it so far and I'll be finishing it today. The cover is fitting... but it's not exciting. I'd rather the book look more like the one described in the book. This book has made me cry, and want to brush up on my Spanish.

What are you reading (or wish you had time to read) this morning? Are you reading the book you thought you'd be reading, or has today found you with a surprise? Link up below!