Squeaky Books

HELLO WORLD!

2016-01-26T10:51:00.002-07:00

No, I'm not returning to blogging. But I wanted to let you all know I'm not dead. In fact, I'm REALLY not dead. I have something to show you:

What do all these pictures have in common? ME! I've really started to make a name for myself in the cosplay community. I love honing my craft. I don't read a lot anymore, but I do listen to A LOT of audiobooks while I sew, so books are still a part of my life.

I just wanted to reach out and let you guys know that you can follow me in my costuming journey now if you'd like. In the costuming world I'm known as "Renna" instead of Enna. My personal cosplay page is RENNAgade Cosplay.

So... Hello! I'm still alive. And I've missed you all a lot. But I'm loving costuming as well. I hope to see you around my new page!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

In which I officially announce my retirement... because I'm beginning my career

2014-08-05T17:38:00.000-06:00

Okay, this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. It's not coming as a shock to me. I've been in semi-denial for the last year, thinking that I was just going through a blogging slump. But the truth is, it's not a slump. I'm done. And it's a good kind of done. I accomplished all the goals I wanted in blogging. I made new friends, new connections, and read a lot of great books.

I AM NOT GOING TO STOP READING OR REVIEWING

I am going to continue to review books, however it will exclusively be on GoodReads and Amazon now. I haven't been writing reviews either of those places recently because I've been thinking "Oh. I should review those on my blog." And that's silly. Because I don't end up doing EITHER.

I'm currently going through a culling of my GoodReads friends; so if I don't recognize your name you're probably gonna be gone soon. If you'd still like to see my reviews, I'd recommend "following" me on GoodReads instead of "friending." (The event invitations and book recommendations are just becoming too much!)

I thought I would be really sad when my blogging finally came to an end, but like I said: I've gotten everything I wanted out of blogging. My life is in a really great spot right now. Many people quit blogging because they are crazy busy, and I guess I'm busy, but I'm busy with stuff that I LOVE. Two weeks from today I start my first day teaching high school, something I've wanted for over ten years. I'm preparing to enter a world-wide cosplay competition. And I'm surrounded by great friends.

Life is good, friends. Life is good.

So even though I won't be on blogger anymore (except maybe sporadically? I dunno). I will still be on Twitter and GoodReads. So I hope we can stay in touch. Maybe I'll even share my FaceBook cosplay page with y'all some day. If I'm feeling brave. ;)

Keep reading, my friends! You're the best!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

Books for Sale!

2014-06-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

I have more books for sale! Here they are in picture form. Nearly all are in like-new condition (if you request one that isn't, I'll let you know before you purchase). I'm just running out of space and it's getting way too hard to store all of these books. So I had to go through all of them and ask myself "Will you read this?" If the answer was no, out it went! I just don't have time to read everything!

Request books via this Google Form. Prices are as marked on the google doc. Shipping is $3 for the first book and $1 for each additional book. US only. I accept payment in the form of Paypal and Amazon Gift Cards. ARCs are available to for trade or GC only. Also, if your order is above $20 (before shipping) then you may choose an ARC for free (plus $1 shipping). Shipping costs may be adjusted for larger orders (don't worry, it'd only go down, not up).

I'm offering discounts if you buy multiple books from the same author, too!

And... I think that's it. There are nearly fifty books! I tried to link to the correct GoodReads edition below, so check 'em out and then fill out the Google Form to let me know which ones you'd like! First come (meaning first paid) first serve! No holds. I will be at work until late this afternoon, so please be patient with me in replying to your requests.

Thanks!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

Mini Reviews (6)

2014-04-29T13:09:00.000-06:00

AKA Review ALL THE THINGS!

I want to get back into reviewing, but I'm SO far behind on reviews that it seems daunting. Whenever this happens it's time to cue the mini-reviews! Just some simple one-paragraph reviews of the books I've read in the last couple months. That way I don't feel like I'm buried in unwritten reviews and can get back to writing them!

This time I'm going to feature all of the books I've read since February that are sequels. Whether book two, end of a trilogy, etc. The rating for each book is in (parenthesis) next to the title and author name.

Prodigy & Champion, Marie Lu (4.5 flowers)

This series surprised me! I loved that it went in directions that you wouldn't expect, especially when it game to bad guys. Are the bad guys really bad? Are the good guys good? I still don't know! And that's how I like it. Also, I want to live in Antarctica now.

Perfect Lies, Kiersten White (4.5 flowers)

This book is like an episode of Law and Order before bed. Now... if you're me, that sounds like the perfect nighttime plan. Seriously. I love Law and Order before bed. And this book fit that bill perfectly. Full of mystery, a little bit of romance, some tense moments, but nothing that would scar me or even get my blood pumping very hard. A simple, easy, fun read.

Infinite, Jodi Meadows (5 flowers)

Holy crap. What can I say about this book except that IT IS AMAZING. I have adored this whole series, but this one really took the cake. There were certain things revealed that just... whoa. Blew my mind. I'm STILL processing them. And that ending! GAH! That ending gave me so many mixed emotions that my brain still feels backwards. If you haven't read this series, DO IT.

Split Second, Kasie West (5 flowers)

I have no idea why I like this series. I shouldn't. It's primarily a contemporary romance, which as you know I am NOT a fan of. And yet, I love this series. I guess that little paranormal flare is just enough to make it amazing. Or maybe I do like CR and just don't know it... regardless, even though there were moments in this book where I thought things like "Well that's convenient" it was immediately coupled with "But I don't care, because I LOVE IT!" This is another series that I see as primarily fluffy, but not without depth and intrigue. Plus I love the characters!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters, Laini Taylor (4 flowers)

Just finished this one yesterday. Honestly, I found this book pretty slow. Felt like not a lot happened. But also honestly, I didn't really care. The writing is beautiful. The characters are beautiful. The story is beautiful. So a little slowness couldn't hurt.

At first I was like "You're going to end there!? THERE?! Are there going to be four books in this 'trilogy'?!"

But then I was like "Oh. Okay. Actually. This is a super fantastical awesome ending. I am happy. And so is my imagination."

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

Okay fine! Just Cos'

2014-04-16T18:21:00.000-06:00

Okay. Fine. I'm biting the bullet. I'm posting pictures of me dressed as a weirdo. Mostly to explain my current absence. I am desperately trying to finish THREE costumes (one for me, two for other people) in the next two days. So.. fine. I might delete this post, but here I am dressed as fictional characters. I'll even post reference pictures for y'all.

What have I done?!

Lan Fan Reference Image.
This is Fan-Art, and the black/silver
is actually inverted. Mine is correct. ;)

This is Lan Fan. She was my first ever "official" cosplay. She comes from the anime, "Fullemtal Alchemist: Brotherhood" I made everything, including the robotic arm, which is made from thermally molded plastic.

River Song Reference Image

This was my second ever cosplay, and my first dress. This is River Song, from Dr. Who, who is my favorite fictional character of all time. Yes, even more than Enna. Not a lot more, but more. Honestly, I'm not very proud of this costume. It was my first time making a dress, and it turned out big and bulky and awkward. But it was fun. And I like that wig.

Crona Reference Image

I actually had a couple costumes in between River Song and Crona, but... I'm not quite sure I'm ready to share those yet. Crona was actually thrown together last minute just as a joke. My roommate dressed up as Ragnarok and I carried her around piggyback. But We were very popular at the convention!

Midna Reference Picture

Finally, here's Midna! This is probably the costume I'm now most well-known for, and she's definitely my favorite to wear (though it takes about 2 hours to put it all on). I've also won several awards for this costume. Pretty trophies. Midna is from the video game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess which is my favorite game of all time. I feel so pretty when I get to step into her skin.

All of the white detailing on the cloak and skirt was appliqued on. Which means every piece of that MONSTER design is SEWN on. Just the cloak took me nearly 50 hours. It's about 8-9 feet across and 6 feet tall. The heels that I wore in this costume made me about 6 feet tall as well. It's quite the feat to move around it.

So... there I am in all my nerdy glory. Now, back to sewing! I've got three Amestrian Military uniforms to finish before Saturday! Eeps!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

In which I struggle with my secret identity

2014-04-02T17:58:00.000-06:00

*cough* Um. Hello. I'm not dead. Even though I apparently forgot about March. It was a whirlwind month. But even though I haven't been blogging, I have finished my student teaching, accepted the job of my dreams, and will be receiving my diploma in 3 weeks. And believe it or not, I actually HAVE been reading during all that. A lot of reading, actually. I just don't have much time to write down my thoughts anymore.

Actually... the reason I don't have much time to blog, is because my cosplay hobby has kinda taken over my life. In a good way. I love it. But that brings me to to the topic of this post: my secret identity.

If you're new (ha! Why in the world would I have new readers?) then maybe you don't know this: I have a secret identity. In the almost seven years that I have been blogging I have NEVER shown my face on my blog. When I take pictures in public book-places I always cover my face with a book. It's my quirk.

This is in direct odds with my cosplay persona. Cosplay is all about showing yourself off, face included.

And hence my trouble. I REALLY want to share with you guys some of my cosplay pictures (even though I'm pretty sure most of you don't care, I'm just kinda proud of myself), but at the same time I've always been stupidly proud of having a "secret identity." Even though most of you who still read the blog I have met in person, and so it doesn't really matter.

Anyway... this post isn't really about anything. It's mostly to let you know that I'm alive, and I am THINKING about posting. And that's a good thing, right?

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

The Winner's Curse-- Marie Rutkoski

2014-02-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Romance, Political Intrigue
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 368
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Blurb: An okay read, but never really grabbed me.

Review: I've heard some people say that fans of the Grisha Trilogy will like this book. And eh... I think I can see where they're coming from. But I adore the GT, and this book... was just okay.

Does this book have a lot of politics? Honestly... not really. I felt like we never really got to see the inner workings of their world. The class systems and heirarchy were mentioned, but never fully explored. I didn't really get to know anyone but the two main characters. And so all I got was two perspectives when I wanted a lot more. And I don't mean I wanted a multiple POV book, just a more diverse cast of characters. Or even better, a more in depth exploration of those characters.

Was the love story interesting? Yes. It was very interesting to see the two main characters struggle with their loyalty to their culture, and to each other. That was something unique. And I appreciated that neither character was willing to throw either away easily. In most cases like this it seems that the characters decide to forget everything they've known for their whole lives and just run off together, OR they decide that the only way they can move forward is to completely abandon each other. Not so in The Winner's Curse. The characters wrestled very well with their conflicting emotions.

But in the end, I'm not quite sure I was invested enough to crave the sequel. I might pick it up someday if I get the chance. But I would recommend you get this one from the library before buying it.

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Audio Review: Elantris

2014-02-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Narrator: Jack Garrett
Genre: High Fantasy
Producer: Recorded Books

Story Rating:

Audio Rating:

Goodreads | Amazon

Story Review: So... I wasn't a huge fan of this story. And the more that I think about it the more holes I find. I've had an irrational "thing" against Brandon Sanderson for a while, though. So I don't know if my word is trustworthy in this case.

But in the end I found the story nice, but the novel not so much. That's why I'm glad I listened to it as an audiobook. The great narration almost made up for the not-as-good writing. And although I was very interested to know what would happen in the story, it was the "I almost want to just go read a synopsis" kind of interested. Not "I'm cherishing every word." Because honestly, there were just too many things that annoyed me. (like if he said "Kolo" ONE MORE TIME I was gonna smack somebody)

Audio Review: On the other hand, the audio was great! I thought Garrett did an awesome job portraying all the many different voices, male and female, and making it clear who was talking even when the novel wasn't super clear. I also liked that this was a LONG audiobook. Now that I listen to audiobooks as I drive to and from work (so at least an hour a day, and more if I decide to clean my apartment) I like having a book that can stay with me for a while.

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

TV Tuesday: Austenland!

2014-02-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today's TV Tuesday is going to be short, but oh-so-sweet. Because GUESS WHAT?! Austenland is finally out on DVD! So if you weren't able to see it in theatres, now is your chance! Click here to check it out on Amazon. They've also been running some fun contests on Facebook!

I really enjoyed this movie. Was it different from the book? Yes. Quite a lot. But I think the changes made were necessarily for the translation from page to screen. And honestly? I thought the changes were WONDERFUL because it meant that some things in the movie were still a surprise to me! it was like getting a whole new Austenland that was just as good as the original!

And the CAST! Oh man. Do not get me started on the cast. Everyone was brilliant! I really don't think I could have come up with a single person who could have done a better job.

So in a nutshell: BUY THE MOVIE!!!

Trailer

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

*The Diviners-- Libba Bray

2014-02-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Release Date: September 18th, 2012
Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Romance?
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 584
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Blurb: How can a book so long leave me wanting so much more?!

Review: This book... whoa. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn't this. I think I assumed this book was a straight-up horror. And while there are a lot of horror/thriller elements, there is so much more. It's got horror, supernatural powers, steampunk, romance, and more. In fact, there is so much in this book, that one book can't contain it. And it doesn't, unfortunately.

The sequel to this book comes out this fall, and I don't know how people have waited so long. When I reached the end of this book I felt like a thousand gallons of information and plot had been poured over me, and yet I was still missing things! Because of this I began to doubt the book. I had read it primarily over the holiday break, and so I had large chunks of time to devote to it. Did that make it seem faster-paced than it really was? Would I have been bored by this book if I had been reading it in 30-60 minute intervals? I don't know.

What I do know, is that the characters seemed very interesting and complex. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, because I couldn't relate to them. But I still found them fascinating. And every twist and turn of the plot kept me on my toes and wondering if it really was magic, or if someone was just imitating magic. And even though I didn't feel like there was much of a cliffhanger at the end of this book I have SO MANY unanswered questions that I await the sequel with baited breath.

Other Reviews:

TBA (Loved it!)
TBA (It was okay)
TBA (Didn't Like It.)

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Audio Review: Birthmarked & Promised

2014-02-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Author: Caragh O'Brien
Narrator: Carla Mercer-Meyer
Genre: Dystopia, Romance
Producer: Tantor Media

Story Rating:

Audio Rating:

Goodreads | Amazon

Story Review: Review of Birthmarked | Review of Prized

I hope y'all know that I love this series (though to be honest, I'm not like Prized as much as I listen to it. Conflicting moral opinions), but I do not love these audio books. I don't know that I've ever listened to a "Tantor Media" book, and I think I shall avoid listening to them in the future. If I weren't trying to refresh my memory so I could read Promised, I would not be listening to these.

Why? Well, for one the recording quality isn't very good. I can hear the author swallow quite a lot, or take a drink. And sometimes I can tell where the audio is cut together because her tone changes. And at one point during Birthmarked I though I heard something fall over...

But the main reason I don't like these audiobooks is the narrator herself. She has a slight lisp, which always drives me crazy, but there was something more than that: she pronounces this SO WEIRD! Sometimes I found myself wondering if she is seeing some of these words for the very first time, almost like this book is building her vocabulary. But like most people who see a word for the first time, she doesn't say it right. And I don't mean she says it in a different dialect or accent, I mean if she had ever heard this word before she would know that no one pronounces it that way. I occasionally wondered if maybe English wasn't her first language, but couldn't detect any accent.

She also isn't consistent with the way she pronounces things. The main characters name is Gaia, which sometimes she pronounces Guy-Uh (How I think it should be said), but sometimes she pronounces it Gay-Uh. And she does that with lots of other things too. Whether she was wrong/right, I wish she was consistent!

I wonder if that's something I should blame on the narrator, or the editors. I feel like her supervisors should have caught that and said "Watch how you pronounce Gaia's name." or "Cicada is actually pronounced Sih-Cay-Duh, try that again."

Regardless, BIG fan of these books, NOT a fan of these audiobooks.

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

TV Tuesday: Video Games (1)

2014-02-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

Video games TOTALLY count as TV, yeah? Because even though I think they're a lot more active than just watching TV, most of them do take place on a TV. So I'm featuring them. Plus, I love them. In this post I'm going to be talking about my 3 favorite series, which all happen to be for Wii/Nintendo, and next week I'll branch out to some non-Nintendo games!

The Legend of Zelda

Does this come as a shock to anyone? Really? If you know me IRL, or if you've known me long enough to this post, you know I am ga-ga for this series. Why? Because it's probably one of the most rich video game experiences out there. Every single game in this series has such dynamic characters, engaging story lines, and phenomenal gameplay. Although I definitely prefer the more realistic style games to the cartoony ones, it's hard to find a bad game in this series. My personal favorite is Twilight Princess. How about you?

What I also love about this game is how mentally stimulating it is. There are very few moments of button-smashing in LoZ. You have to think, and I mean really think. But you also have the freedom to explore this expansive (and beautiful) world. If there were only one video game franchise in the whole world, this would be the one I would want.

If you have a chance to play this series, I would recommend starting with Ocarina of Time. But really, you can start with anyone you want.

Metroid

If you know video games, it also shouldn't be a surprise that I love this series. While LoZ is primarily fantasy, Metroid is essentially the sci-fi version of LoZ. In all of the games you play Samus Aran, a female bounty hunter (YES, Samus is A GIRL). And in almost all of the games Samus is the only intelligent life form in the game. Well... some of the aliens you kill are pretty clever, but what I mean is that it's a very isolated experience. I have a friend who does not like to play this game because she says it makes her feel lonely.

But I love it, for all the same reason as LoZ too. Except Metroid is often a bit darker and scarier, and that can be refreshing after playing the comparatively happy-fun-times of Zelda. But in the end it is also a puzzle-adventure game. So if you like puzzles, and you like explore HUGE alien planets, this is the game for you.

If you do decide to play Metroid, I would recommend starting with the Prime Trilogy. Unfortunately, getting the whole trilogy on Wii is PRICEY (anywhere from $50-$200 depending on new or used), but the gameplay on Gamecube just isn't quite as good in my opinion. So if you start with Prime #3: Corruption (the only one sold individually for Wii) you should still be able to follow the story just fine. Other M is good too, just a bit different from a typical Metroid game, which is why I suggest Prime.

Fire Emblem

This is a series I was only recently introduced to. Honestly, when I first played this game I got so bored. It is a turn-based RPG. Very different from LoZ and Metroid. But then I tried it over the holiday break and loved it! While it doesn't have as much adventure as the previous two series I've mentioned, it is essentially one big puzzle. And an added edge is that when a character dies they don't come back to life. Phew. That made for a lot of restarting.

But my absolute FAVORITE thing about this game was definitely the strong female characters. Although The Legend of Zelda's titular character is a pretty BA character, and the main character of Metroid is equally awesome, they aren't quite on the level of Fire Emblem when it comes to strong female characters. Because it is Link who saves Zelda. And although Samus is female, many people don't know that because she's inside a fairly androgynous robot-suit.

So what makes Fire Emblem different? There is absolutely no distinction in the way male and female characters are treated. Is the main character a man? Yes. But he's surrounded by strong female characters. And never once is the validity of their strength brought into question. And the female characters are as strong as the male characters. By the end of the game most of my MVPs were female. I loved it! After I finished these games I had about a dozen new video game heroes, all women.

Currently my favorite game in this series is Path of Radiance, but... it's also the only one I've played all the way through. So... start with that one?

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

An Update

2014-01-28T18:38:00.001-07:00

Just if anyone cares: I started student teaching a few weeks ago and it's taken a lot more of my brain than I thought it would. Plus, when I DO have free time, blogger is blocked on the school's wifi. Curse you! Mix together student teaching, certification exams, and the job that actually pays me, and my time is very limited. But I actually have been reading A LOT and I hope to get some pretty sweet posts scheduled this weekend so I can start February fresh.

Until then, check out how awesomely dangerous Shannon Hale is, AND see what cool prizes you can get if you pre-order her book!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

Allegiant-- Veronica Roth

2014-01-08T17:28:00.002-07:00

Release Date: October 22nd 2013
Genre: Dystopia, Romance
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 526
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Series: Divergent #3 (Review of #1, #2)
Summary (spoilers, highlight to view):

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Blurb: Not an awesome finale, but certainly not terrible

Review: Like most of my end-of-series reviews, I'll keep this fairly brief and spoiler-free. I was really nervous to read this book because it seemed like it caused SO much angst in the YA world when it came out. I have since discovered that this angst is primarily due to two things: 1) the slow pace, and 2) Tris' actions at the end of the book.

Neither of these things bothered me. I thought the book was "fine." I never felt like I was dragging through it, and was eager to read it. I didn't notice the slow pace at all, but perhaps that's because it has been ages since I read the first two, so I had nothing to compare it to, and I also read most of it over Christmas break, and so had big chunks of time to read. So perhaps it was slow, and I just missed it.

BUT, I can speak with confidence when it comes to the second issue. Tris' actions at the end of the book did not bother me at all because it was typical Tris. I felt like even though Veronica decided to do something fairly drastic with the story, she did not jump the shark. I totally believe that Tris, Four, Christina, and everyone else would have acted the way that they did. Does that mean that I liked the choices they made? No. Not even. But it didn't diminish the book for me at all because even though I didn't really like what happened, I felt like it was the right thing for the story. There was even sequel-phase in this story (which I usually hate) that felt totally natural and right.

If anything bugged me, it was that although this book claims to be "told from a riveting dual perspective," there were several times where I lost track of who was speaking. It didn't regularly switch back and forth each chapter, and Tris and Four have such similar voices, that I got lost quick. It would have been helpful to have their name at the top of the page or something, like that hilarious Brian Regan sketch. I should find a link to that...

Anyway, there you go. I didn't hate the book, I didn't love the book, I just thought it was a satisfying end to the series and I don't regret leaving it behind now. Though, I will go see the movie, if just for curiosity's sake.

Other Reviews:

TBA (Loved it!) Coming soon! My school district blocks blogger blogs (except mine for some reason...) so I will have to add this later!
The Quiet Voice (It was okay)
TBA (Didn't Like It.) Coming soon for the same reason. :)

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Goals for 2014!

2014-01-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Before I get to my 2014 goals, let's see how we did with my 2013 goals:

Reading Goals
Read 50 books OR Read 17,500 pages

Blah. Nope. I read even less than last year. I only read 46 books.

Blog Goals

Post at least 2-3 times a week
Host a multi-blog massive giveaway
Host AND PARTICIPATE in another read-a-thon
Write reviews within 1 week of reading the book

UGH. I failed HARDCORE at ALL of these. 2013 was a rough year for blogging, my friends.
Personal Goals
~~Win the costume contest!~~ Okay, I didn't actually win the costume contest I was referring to in this goal, BUT I did win a costume contest in October. And not only did I win, I won TWICE. I entered in beginner, and took home 1st place intermediate for craftsmanship, and 1st place beginner for stage presence. I felt pretty awesome.
Learn French. Um... I bought some French learning software that I haven't opened yet. Does that count?
Go on a date. HA HA! NOPE! AGAIN! I am such a sad human being.
~~Continue to write in journal.~~ I actually did pretty good in this! I wasn't as regular as 2012, but still pretty good!
Write 20,000 words. I'm... actually not sure if I met this goal. I didn't really keep track of my words. But I'm pretty sure I did NOT.

2014 Goals:

Reading Goals:

Read 50 books OR Read 17,500 pages
Manga does not count (I read it really really fast) but audiobooks DO (because I no longer listen to them for my job).

Blog Goals:

Post at least 5 times a month (I know, this is dramatically less than my hey-day, but hey! I have busier days!)
Figure out how to bring blog back to life, and here are some ideas:
Host a multi-blog massive giveaway (Anyone want in?)
Host AND PARTICIPATE in another read-a-thon

Personal Goals:

Try that date thing again. Come on, certainly THIS year. Please? I don't want to be pathetic anymore! I swear I'm not an extremely social awkward person, I just have absolutely no flirting ability which means it's impossible for me to find my way out of the "friend zone" with ANYONE. Or even find my way to the "friends who date each other for giggles" zone.
Start writing again. I should be more specific... but I'm not sure how specific I want to be. Right now my roommate and I are just gonna start writing our fanfictions again.
Regain a basic mastery of the flute. I used to play, but it's been years since I even picked it up. I want to start again!
Continue to write in journal. A worthy goal whatever the year. But my current journal is almost filled up! I really want this to be my next journal, but so many monies...
Be able to run 6 miles in 60 minutes. I'm working on this right now. I'm really lame, but getting better!
Complete the lazy-man Ironman. This is something my school does in February. If you complete an ironman triathalon over the course of a month, you get a t-shirt.
Lose 7 more pounds/become more toned. I've lost 23 pounds in the last 6 months. I'd love to lose 7 more to make it an even 30. However, I'd also really like to become more fit and toned, and I know that muscle weighs more than fat. So... the weight loss thing is flexible.
Graduate college. You guys, I'm so close. I'm so close!!
Get a "real" job. Look out public school. I'm coming for you Fall of 2014.

Cosplay Goals

(Yes, this has become such a part of my life that it warrants its own category)

I have 6 costumes planned for 2014, but I won't bore you with the specifics. Just know that I have a goal to complete all 6.
Attend and compete in an out-of-state costume contest. We're planning on Nan Desu Kan 2014!
Open Etsy Store. And fill it with all kinds of nerdy-goodness! Specializing in cosplay, but with other things too!
Learn how to use Worbla. This stuff is magic for making armor, and some of my dream costumes are really armor-heavy. So must learn!

I think that'll do for now!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2014

Year in Review: 2013

2013-12-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

Ugh. This was probably my worst year of blogging EVER. So... these stats are pretty sad, but I always post a year in review so... not gonna stop now!

EDIT: This should have gone up at 11:59pm on 12/31/12. Dunno why it didn't.

Here is my year-end statistics post:

As of 11:59pm on 12/31/13

Followers: 1,718 (Up 4 from last year, but kind of obsolete now that Reader is gone.)
Newsletter Subscribers Gained: 2
Twitter Followers: 1,175 (DOWN 44 from last year. ouch.)
2013 Blog Posts: 65 (DOUBLE ouch! Total 1163)
Books Read: 46 (*hangs head in shame*)
Average Time Taken per book: 8 days
Pages Read: 15,850 (Approx. 345 pages per book)

Books Reviewed: 26
2013 Squeaky Books: 6 (Total 72)
2013 Semi-Squeaky Books: 2 (Total 41)

See you tomorrow for a look at how I did on my 2013 goals, and some 2014 goals!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2013

Top 10 of '13

2013-12-31T20:48:00.000-07:00

I may have only read 46 books in 2013, but that isn't going to stop me from making a top 10 list! No sir-ee! So here we go, my top 10 books of 2013:

#10 Mind Games, by Kiersten White
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

This book was short and sweet, like a TV episode vs a movie. And it was a delightful read. I am still eagerly awaiting the sequel.

#9 The Looking Glass Wars, by Frank Beddor
GoodReads | Amazon*

I know I'm late to the party when it comes to this series, but I still really enjoyed it! Beddor has a great way with wordplay and storytelling.

#8 The Fury, by Alexander Gordon Smith
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

I still have nightmares about this one, guys. Even though it was HUGE, and I'm still not entirely sure what happened, I remember whipping through this book like it was a race. I almost literally devoured it. Almost. ;)

#7 Ever After High, by Shannon Hale
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

I might have surprised myself with how much I liked this book. I just... I just really liked it! It made me feel happy!

#6 What's Left of Me, by Kat Zhang
GoodReads | Amazon*

I really admired this book for how many things it got me to think about, and I'm talking deep things. Although I feel like the plot got a little fuzzy/boring in book #2, I still think this book is AWESOME, and I can't wait for book #3.

#5 The 5th Wave, Rick Yancey
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

THIS is aliens done right. It's been almost a year since I read this, and I can STILL clearly recall some of the story elements, as well as the emotions I felt while reading. LOVED IT! And the sequel cannot come out soon enough!

#4 Asunder, by Jodi Meadows
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

AH! I still love this series. I absolutely cannot wait for the third book to come out (less than a month away!!!), and I still think Jodi is a master storycrafter. How does she manage to fit all those awesome plot elements into ONE BOOK?!

#3 Transparent, by Natalie Whipple
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

Okay, I technically read this in 2012, but so late in the year that I'm counting it as 2013. This book was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome. Like... I think I need to re-read it. Right now. See ya later. (Psst. Read review for more coherent explanations of awesome-ness)

#2 Pivot Point, by Kasie West
GoodReads | Amazon* | My Review

This book BLEW MY MIND. It was a tough call to put this in 2nd place, it almost got 1st. It's that awesome. I just... my feels went on a crazy trip in this book. And it was so mind-bendy! I am a little afraid that the second book won't be as awesome because it will rely on the same thing that made the first book awesome (the split timelines), but I still have high hopes!

#1 Cress, by Marissa Meyer
GoodReads | Amazon*

Whoa. Whoa, you guys. Whoa. I usually try to avoid putting not-released books on this list (notice a lack of Dangerous? That's intentional. I thought it would be mean. ;) ) but since this one is part of a series that's already awesome, I figured I'd just put it out here anyway because I think this is my favorite book of the series. I'm sorry to be mean and say that when it's still got a while before it comes out, but... whoa, guys. Just whoa.

But, to be entirely honest, 2013 was not a great year for reading for me. Not only did I not read very many books, but when I went to make my top 10... there were only 10 books I was even considering putting in. Usually I have to stress forEVER over the order and which ones to give up. This time it took me about 5 seconds.

So I NEED YOUR HELP! What were the great books of the year for you? What did I miss? Because I definitely feel like I wasn't as involved in the book community this year, and I'm SURE that some awesome books slipped past my radar. So help me! Please?

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2013

*Ever After High-- Shannon Hale

2013-12-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Fairy Tale, Middle Grade
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 304
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens...whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.

What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.

Blurb: The goal may be to sell Mattel, but this is still 100% Shannon Hale.

Review: I did have a concern going into this book, but it doesn't seem to be the same concern that most people had. In nearly every review I read I saw people saying "I was nervous about Shannon and Mattel working together." To which I say: ...why? For some reason I never had this worry. Yes, I knew that the goal of this book would be to sell the dolls, merchandise, etc. But I also felt pretty confident that Shannon wouldn't have agreed to any kind of book deal if she didn't know she could be true to her own writing.

So no, that wasn't my concern. My concern was simply that this book was clearly targeted for the middle grade audience. Not only am I not a middle grader, I actually really dislike middle grade books (just personally, not in general).

Both of these concerns were resolved by the same fact: This book was written by Shannon Hale. Despite the commercialism behind it, Shannon rocks out some awesome values. And despite the intended middle grade audience, the brilliant writing can make this appealing to all ages!

I'll admit that I struggled through the first few chapters. It was just dripping with puns, and at first the use of the word "hex" was just too much for me: "hexcellent" "hextbook" "hexting" AHHHH!!! But eventually it became just like any other book that makes up its own lexicon, and I got used to it. After that happened I loved this book. There were so many subtle things that I'm not even sure a middle grader would get, but I got it and thought it was hilarious. There were even some sections (particularly when the narrator is addressed directly) where I could hear Shannon reading the book in my head. So yes, this book is meant for middle graders, but in the same way Disney movies are made for kids: most adults can still enjoy it if they embrace a little bit of silly.

And I definitely noticed some awesome messages that Shannon had stuck into the book. There were several, but the main one that stuck out to me was how she portrayed the female body image. Yes nearly every princess in the book is described as being beautiful, but I can't remember one time a character was described as "skinny." One of the main characters puts her hands on her "broad" hips, and then later when called "plump" the character isn't bothered. And another character is positively described as having very strong legs (my favorite character in fact, guess who?). Now... I may be reading too much into this, but when I look at those dolls I see skinny waists, big eyes, and high heels. But when I read this book I see princesses that every girl can love and become. And whether or not Shannon consciously wrote this into the book, I LOVE it!

In fact, I loved everything about it. Was it fluff? Hex yes! Fluff to the max! But what did Austenland teach us about froth and fluff? It's the best part! And honestly, I am just as excited for the sequel to this book as I am for some of her YA books.

Other Reviews (TBA):

TBA (Loved it!) I can't find one of these on a blog! Just goodreads. Anyone know where I could find one?
Random Musings of a Bibliophile (It was okay)
TBA (Didn't Like It.) Also couldn't find a blog with one of these. Instead I found a lot of GoodReads reviews that simply said "It was too fluffy and punny, I couldn't finish."

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2013

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Non-Christmas Books for Christmastime

2013-12-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! And if you don't celebrate Christmas: happy Tuesday with no school/work! And if you work in retail... I'm sorry. ;)

Anyway, I was trying to think of a good Christmas-y post, but I realized that I don't read a lot of Christmas books. So I thought, what books DO I read that would be good for Christmas/Winter Holiday season? And here's what I came up with! Enjoy!

The Giver, Lois Lowry
Goodreads | Amazon

This book has always felt like Christmas to me. Probably because of the end. ;)

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

Goodreads | Amazon

In a classics mood? Try Jane Eyre this holiday. It's my favorite classic and has this wonderful way of both squeezing and warming your heart.

Frost, Wendy Delsol

Goodreads | Amazon | My Review

Now this is the sequel to Stork, and Stork is very winter-y, but this one takes the cake. It's primarily a retelling of The Snow Queen, and a lot of it takes place in Iceland. I felt cold the whole time I was reading it. I loved it!

Sabriel, Garth Nix

Goodreads | Amazon | My [audiobook] Review

Why yes, yes this book is about demons, BUT I always picture it as the perfect curled-up-by-the-fireplace read. With snow falling heavily outside, the pages lit by the firelight. *shudders* Oh my word that sounds like heaven. And if you can get hold of the audiobook, it's narrated by TIM CURRY! TIM CURRY, people!!

Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys

Goodreads | Amazon | My Review

If you need a book that will make you love all your fellow man. It's this one. Oh... dear... excuse me while I go cry for a minute.

Ice, Sarah Beth Durst

Goodreads | Amazon | My Review

This is probably my favorite retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon. (Although, no, I have not read East). I fell in love with the characters, setting, and more. A great winter read!

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
Goodreads | Amazon

Need I say more? Really?

So what do you think of my list? Have you read any of these? Are they good for the holiday season? What books make you feel the holiday spirit?

My Holiday Plans!

2013-12-20T21:44:00.001-07:00

I apologize for saying I was coming back and then disappearing for over two weeks. I was hit by the flu, which then turned into bronchitis, and weakened my immune system enough to allow the stomach flu to join the party as well. And after THAT funtimes was done, it was time for finals week!

BUT, the good news is that finals is OVER and this is the first time I've had a job that is totally closed over the holidays (yay for working for the public school system!) which means I have TWO WEEKS of no school and no work. And I'm gonna use them well!

Aside from the obvious spending time with family, here are my plans:

First, I've got to read 7 more books to reach my goal. If I count all the manga I've read I've already surpassed my goal, but I'm not going to count those unless I have to. Here are the 5 books I'm planning on reading right now, and hopefully I'll get more for Christmas!

I'm also planning on doing a lot of sewing this holiday! Are y'all interested in seeing any of my costume stuff? It's usually not book related (though I am planning on starting on an Ever After High costume after I finish the book). Let me know! But regardless, here's what I'm working on this break:

Not a costume, just for fun, I'm planning on making this dress as a Christmas present for myself.

That dress is my first priority, since I'd like to wear it the Sunday after Christmas. But after that, it's time for a NEW COSTUME!

I am SO TIRED of all of my costumes being so cold! I really got into costuming in the summer, and nearly all of my costumes are perfect for summer weather and MISERABLE right now. Therefore I decided I needed a winter costume. And then I realized that my favorite anime character of all time lives in an arctic climate. Perfect!

Thus, I present my next costume:

Olivier Mira Armstrong!

If you don't know who this is, that's okay. But she is the best character from the best anime in the whole entire world. AND she wears like 3 layers! Over the break I'll be patterning the uniform and creating a mockup. I'll probably have to do this more than once (patterning is HARD!) but I want to get round 1 done over the break.

On top of all of this I plan on FINALLY finishing Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, and casually watching Naruto Shippuden (my roommate really wants me to watch that show).

And of course I'll be reviewing awesome books and posting about awesome bookish stuff.

So? What do you think? Am I being to ambitious? What are YOUR plans for the holiday?

Nil-- Lynne Matson

2013-12-03T21:09:00.004-07:00

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Romance, Mystery, Adventure
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Pages: 384
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly.

Blurb: A nice relaxing read. Gritty, and yet fluffy.

Review: Sorry to review this so early, but I can't keep quiet about this one! This was the book that brought me out of my reading slump. It was really easy to get engaged, and the plot was very interesting. However... it was a strange paradox, the plot seemed gritty, and yet it always felt fluffy. I never really took it seriously. This is probably because the romance always seemed over-the-top and silly. But then again... I almost always say that teen romance is over-the-top and silly; so that isn't necessarily a trustworthy stance. And anyway, I really appreciated how easy it was to read (which could be interpreted as fluffy, I suppose) because it was like a happy roller coaster for my brain. Didn't have to fight it to like it.

Even though it seemed fluffy, I was definitely invested. I like that the book is a stand alone (it is a stand alone, right?), but it drew me in and I definitely wanted to know more about Nil. This is the kind of book that I really wish had a map and/or pictures. Ooh! And a prequel would be really cool!

This book comes out in spring, and I think it'd make a great spring break read!

Other Reviews (TBA):

TBA (Loved it!)
TBA (It was okay)
TBA (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

TV Tuesday: Anime (2)

2013-11-27T11:23:00.001-07:00

Okay, I know it's TECHNICALLY Wednesday, but I meant to post this yesterday and then my computer decided blogger was a site that deserved to be blocked. Blah.

Regardless, TV Tuesday is back! And I'm here to feature some MORE anime. Last time I featured two very popular series, today I'm going to focus on two series that will bend your mind (in both good and bad ways).

Code Geass

This is actually a pretty tricky series to find. The DVDs are very expensive, and I'm not sure where it "officially" available online. But if you just google "Watch Code Geass" I'm sure you can find it. It's an incredibly popular series, and for good reason.

This series takes place in an alternate-universe Earth where the British Empire has taken control of most of the planet. This show focuses on what happens after the British Empire (known as Brittania) takes of Japan, and renames it Area 11. The protagonist of the show is a young man named Lelouch, who is Brittanian, but is living in Area 11. We discover that he is the son of the Brittanian emperor, but he is in hiding and attempting to bring the empire down.

Lelouch is already a brilliant young man. He has a mind that works faster and sharper than almost any other. But he still doesn't know how he can take down the empire and free Japan. But all of that changes when a dying young woman gives him the power to command people, and they cannot refuse him.

Honestly, it took me a while to get into this series. I wasn't hooked until at least 15 episodes in (the whole series is about 50 episodes), but then I was HOOKED hard. Every step this show takes just bends your mind a little more. If you aren't confused by the end, then you aren't doing it right. ;)

But I didn't just fall for the story, the characters are also excellent! At first I had a hard time taking Lelouch seriously. But then after I finished I realized: I don't know if you are supposed to take him seriously. I have come to the conclusion that he was crazy the entire time. He's crazy-brilliant, but still crazy.

All in all, I love this show. And it's definitely one I will never forget. As a disclaimer: this show is rated TV-14 I believe, however there are a couple flashes of female chests and rears. It's more annoying than crude.

Trailer:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

(AKA Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica)
Watch on Hulu

This series... whoa. This series. How to describe this series? I suppose I should start by saying that the whole series is only 12 episodes long. So even if you end up hating it, it won't have wasted much of your time.

Yeah. That's an AWESOME introduction, Enna.

I guess I should explain by saying that this series is WEIRD. It is probably the weirdest anime I have ever seen. Because you look at that picture and you think it's going to be a typical magical girl show (think Sailor Moon) and then it turns out to be this crazy dark and mind-bending.... thing!

The story centers around Madoka Kaname, a middle school student. A new student (Homura) transfers into her class and sends off some seriously weird vibes. Later that day, Madoka discovers a magical rabbit-thing that offers to grant any wish Madoka has. Really, anything. And in return, the rabbit-thing (whose name is Kyubey) will give her magical powers and Madoka must fight evil "witches." But suddenly Homura appears and chases off Kyubey. Homura practically begs and threatens Madoka not to become a magical girl.

As the story progresses we meet several other magical girls, and watch as Homura continually tries to thwart them. It's very unclear who the good guys and the bad guys are. And the farther along you go, the more you realize that being a "magical girl" might not be as innocent as it sounds.

That's the best intro I can write without spoiling things. I'm not sure if I would classify this as one of my "favorite" anime, but it's definitely one I'll remember forever. My brain felt incredibly tired by the end. And I still think about it sometimes. It's definitely for older audiences, I would say 16+. And I actually recommend watching it in Japanese, because the English version has some occasional strong language. (Plus the English version is pretty annoying)

Trailer:

Sorrow's Knot-- Erin Bow

2013-11-25T17:28:00.001-07:00

Release Date: October 29, 2013
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 368
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

In the world of SORROW'S KNOT, the dead do not rest easy. Every patch of shadow might be home to something hungry, something deadly. Most of the people of this world live on the sunlit, treeless prairies. But a few carve out an uneasy living in the forest towns, keeping the dead at bay with wards made from magically knotted cords. The women who tie these knots are called binders. And Otter's mother, Willow, is one of the greatest binders her people have ever known.

But Willow does not wish for her daughter to lead the lonely, heavy life of a binder, so she chooses another as her apprentice. Otter is devastated by this choice, and what's more, it leaves her untrained when the village falls under attack. In a moment of desperation, Otter casts her first ward, and the results are disastrous. But now Otter may be her people's only hope against the shadows that threaten them. Will the challenge be too great for her? Or will she find a way to put the dead to rest once and for all?

Blurb: An AWESOME story, but not one to read if your brain is tired.

Review: I am a HUGE fan of the author's first book, Plain Kate, and so I had really high hopes for this book. I loved this story and the world and the characters. HOWEVER I never really understood what was going on...

This was one of those books (and maybe there's a word for this?) where they never actually come out an explain anything. You are just supposed to piece things together by watching the characters live their lives. And maybe it's just because my brain is super tired from my penultimate semester, but I just could never wrap my brain fully around anything. I found myself CRAVING an omniscient narrator who would explain the rules of the world to me, or a new character to stumble in so that the existing characters would have to explain what was going on to him/her. And even though a new character eventually DID stumble into the world, the existing characters DIDN'T explain anything. At least, not more than they already had. They expected the new character to figure it out, just like me.

Things that I wish had been more fully explained:

1. What exactly is "binding"? Where did it come from? How was it discovered? Why does string have power? Does ANY kind of knot have power?

2. Where do the dead come from? Are the non white-hands recognized as being the dead versions of people who were once alive, or are they just mysterious malevolent spirits? (honestly, I only JUST realized that the dead hide in shadows, and that's why the traveling folk don't come to the forest often. They're trying to avoid shadows.)

3. How is the society organized? I was kind of able to piece together the idea of the cords, but I would have liked to know more about the different kinds and options, what it takes to belong in each.

4. Why aren't there very many boys? Why do only women have power? Has there EVER been a boy with power? Do the boys leave because they DON'T have power, or just because it's the norm for boys to leave?

I THINK that all of these things were in the book somewhere, but they were never explicitly explained. And so I feel like in order to answer these questions I'd have to do a lot of guesswork and fill-in-the-blank. And even if someone were to tell me the answers to these questions now... I still wish I had been able to find them in the story.

With all that said, I did REALLY enjoy the book. Maybe if I had gone into it after having read some kind of author's note or summary it would have helped. OR if this had been a book club book and so I could now TALK to people about it. But as it is, here I am 400 pages later and I'm STILL not quite sure what happened...

Other Reviews (TBA):

TBA (Loved it!)
TBA (It was okay)
TBA (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

H-hello? Can I come back now?

2013-11-20T17:05:00.001-07:00

Um... hello. Long time no see, eh? How have you been? I've been good. Keeping busy, ya know. Yeah...

PLEASE TAKE ME BACK!

At the risk of sounding like a needy ex, I think I'm ready to get back into blogging, but also fearful that I've been gone too long. I'm SO out of the loop!

And that's why I need your help. If you're willing, here's how you can help me:

1st: Let me know if you're still here! I'm fairly positive that I've lost all my readers.

2nd: Let me know which book blogs are your favorite. I've completely lost all my Google reader data, and I'm just starting on Feedly. So I need to buff up my reading supply.

3rd: What have you been reading! What's new? What's exciting? What's awful?

I can't promise that I'll be posting A TON, but I am trying to ease myself back into the blogging scene. I've started reading in earnest again, and I MISS YOU! There's been a part of my life missing ever since I stopped blogging. And even though I've picked up some new hobbies there's still a space in my heart reserved strictly for my book blogging buddies.

So help me! Please?

Why being a nerd is awesome

2013-09-09T22:37:00.001-06:00

I've always been afraid to reveal to people how nerdy I really am. Because most of the time people think I'm "normal" and are surprised when I reveal to them how weird I am. I like that. If I do it the other way, they usually assume I'm going to be socially awkward/introverted.

HOWEVER, I've gotten kind of tired of hiding who I am and what I like. So today I took a leap of faith:

Today one of my classes was doing "introductions" as the professor took role. People were being SOOOO boring. So I decided to play a little game with them. When it got to me, I challenged the class by saying "Hi, my name is Enna and I consider myself a multigenre supernerd. If there's something nerdy, whether socially acceptable or not, I'm probably into it. I challenge you to find something I'm not into."

And then this happened:

Professor: Did you go to [Salt Lake] Comic Con?
Me: I had a VIP pass.
Professor: Naruto?
Me: Temari is my favorite character.
Girl #1: You watch anime?
Me: I'm a huge otaku
Boy #1: Doctor who?
Me: Oh yeah. River Song is my hero. I suppose I should also now mention that I'm a Sherlockian as well as a Whovian. I've also been a book reviewer for the big six publishers, I'm a HUGE video gamer, and I do my own graphic design and HTML.

At this point the professor really started to get into it.

Professor: All right y'all. She has thrown down the gauntlet! Who can top her?
Me: I will awkward you all out of here.
Boy #2: I've got one. When I was in 7th grade I won a national pokemon card tournament.
Class oohs and ahhs.
Professor: Do you still play?
Boy #2: Nah. I don't have my deck anymore
Me: I have seven decks. Come on over and we'll play some time.

Then the professor decided he should probably continue with class.

I didn't even get to mention cosplay...

And random interjection: I recently got the opportunity to read Dangerous by Shannon Hale. Should I review that ASAP or closer to the release date?