Random Ramblings

Easter + Spring

2013-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is slowly saying hello to us all. Here's a little video I made, just because I was inspired by the sort of Spring weather, floral designs everywhere, and my backyard.

never go to bed alone.

2013-03-08T09:47:00.002-08:00

LOVE this email I got today. I thought you would appreciate it. Happy Friday!

addicted to PINTEREST.

2013-03-04T02:02:00.004-08:00

I just signed up for this one. I've been using it even before I started my own account, and it's so addicting! If you have a pinterest account, share it below. I'd like to follow you!

Here is mine.

Happy Monday!

currently reading this wonderfully written book!

2013-02-21T01:53:00.003-08:00

I am not even halfway done with this book, but I am already in love with it.

I hope it ends well, and that I end up loving it when I'm done with it, but so far, it's awesome.

I love the writing especially, and the fact that it is incredibly bookish.

I mean, look at this part here! (contains no spoilers by the way)

I am sure some of you will feel like you could have written this part! I know when I read it, I automatically got up and took a photo of it. I knew I had to show you guys.

Ereaders can be awesome, but it's certainly not for everyone!

Hope you are having a wonderful week so far.

buying books is both good and bad.

2013-02-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

The whole season of fall, I don't think I really bought any books. That is a pretty big deal, especially for me. I just wasn't into it at all, and couldn't find anything that captured my interest. This past January though, and this February, I have been slowly getting back to one of my favorite things.

BOOK BUYING.

Now this can be a good thing, and a bad thing at the same time.

Good for me since I am back to reading and loving it, but bad... for my wallet!

I mean, do I really need another book? I don't have space on my bookshelves anymore, and I really need to think about getting bins for my other books to keep somewhere else or something. But I couldn't help myself. To be honest, I am pretty excited about this growing enthusiasm. It's about time it came back!

Here's the books I got so far in 2013. It's not much, but it's a good place to start after a horrible reading slump.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

World War Z by Max Brooks

What books have you bought so far this year?

And is book buying exciting as exciting for you as actually reading it? For me it is! I'd like to hear from you.

currently reading + intriguing introductions!

2013-02-15T01:28:00.003-08:00

This book, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, is what I'm currently reading right now.
A lot of people have been giving this book 5 star ratings, and since it's going to be a movie, starring Brad Pitt, I thought I should go ahead and read it too, since I am planning to watch it when it comes out. The trailer looks really cool, and the book's synopsis made me want to dig in. And while I haven't even really started reading yet, I want to go ahead and point out how incredibly intriguing this 'introduction' is!

It goes by many names: "The Crisis," "The Dark Years," "The Walking Plague," as well as newer and more hip titles such as "World War Z" or "Z War One."I personally dislike this last moniker as it implies an inevitable "Z War Two." For me, it will always be "The Zombie War," and while many may protest the scientific accuracy of the word zombie, they will be hard pressed to discover a more globally accepted term for the creatures that almost caused our extinction. Zombie remains a devastating word, unrivaled in its power to conjure up so many memories or emotions, and it is these memories, and emotions, that are the subject of this book.

This record of the greatest conflict in human history owes its genesis to a much smaller, much more personal conflict between me and the chairperson of the United Nation's Postwar Commission Report.

If that doesn't make you want to read more, I don't know what will!

Are there any books in particular that you remember grabbed you right from the beginning? And also, out of curiosity, what are you all reading this week?

Happy Friday!

valentine's day and my favorite love stories.

2013-02-14T00:19:00.000-08:00

I feel like anytime I post a list of my favorite love stories, they always remain the same. Here are the ones that are constant, no matter what.

Ron and Hermione from the Harry Potter series.
Henry and Claire from The Time Traveler's Wife.
Jamie and Langdon from A Walk to Remember.
Liesel and Rudy from The Book Thief.
Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre.
Snape and Lily from the Harry Potter series.

I would love to hear your favorite love stories (or couples).

I would also love to hear what you all are up to today? Today I am treating myself to Starbucks, and a book (or two). Happy Thursday, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Movie Recommendation: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2013-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

If I can recommend one movie that I saw in 2012 that I think you should see, it's probably The Perks of being a Wallflower. It's surprisingly underrated, and I don't think a lot of people paid the attention it deserves. So this post, is dedicated mainly to tell you that you must watch this when it comes out on DVD on February 10th.

I went into watching this film without really expecting anything, mainly because I always have lower expectations for movie adaptations. And I loved this book when I first read it when I was in high school. But I was pleasantly surprised for sure. This movie was flawless, in my opinion. Everything about it... I absolutely loved.

I love the pace, the overall development, the cinematography, the soundtrack, the writing. Most especially though, I loved the actors that played these dear characters. I give kudos to all of them, but especially to Logan Lerman, who plays the story's lovable main character. I don't want to say much about it, since I really don't want to give away anything, but let's just say his portrayal of him was heartbreakingly realistic.

Watch it! And then let me know what you think of it. If you have seen it, let me know what you thought. I understand some people have said they took a couple of stuff out from the book, but I think that they did an awesome job fitting in what was essential. I can't wait to re-watch this!

just finished and about to read!

2013-02-06T01:58:00.002-08:00

I finally finished Beautiful Creatures. I really wanted to read this since the movie's out and all, and a lot of people have told me to read it. I don't know if I really "liked it-liked it" as much as maybe others did, but I thought it offered something kind of unique. I might watch the movie when it comes out on DVD or something, since I'm curious to see how the actors will portray these characters. I would recommend this book to paranormal/fantasy/YA readers and fans. I think I'm a bit tired of this genre at the moment, so I'm not all enthusiastic about it, but if you are, I say try it out!

(thoughts on movie tie-in editions? not a fan, but sometimes they're the only ones available!)

I also just bought Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and I can not wait to read this. The premise is so intriguing, and it has been getting extremely positive reviews. Hopefully it lives up the hype.

If you've read these two books, what did you think? Yay or nay? What are you currently reading right now? What the last book you read? What did you think of it? Hope you are having a good week so far!

Outfit Ideas: Hogwarts Houses

2013-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes thinking of what to wear can be incredibly boring and mundane. That's why sometimes, when I'm feeling blah and just want inspiration from something, I look towards books.

For this post, I want to show some outfit ideas I put together that are inspired by the Hogwarts houses in the Harry Potter series. They may or may not be completely accurate, but when I see these pieces together, I always think of the color themes for the four houses. I thought I would share some with you.

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw was a bit of a challenge. Blue and bronze aren't necessarily the easiest colors to put together. I also realized that while I have a lot of blues, I have no bronze colors in my closet. This was the only thing that came close to an acceptable bronze-y color.

Hufflepuff

This is more of a tough-Hufflepuff look. Leather jacket (faux), combat boots, black skinny jeans. I like it paired with the more feminine-looking yellow cami.

Slytherin

This is for the very girly Slytherin. The cardigan is more olive than Slytherin-green, but when worn altogether, I think it works.

Gryffindor

I would pair this up with gold flats as I think it will just look so much better, but the nude flats is all I have. Also, a maroon sweater would look extra polished, so I would wear that instead of this hoodie for a different look. Red lips would be a nice touch, and a gold headband would be kind of cute.

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I would like to hear what you think! Do you think these are close enough to the houses' colors? Do you incorporate bookish things to your outfit? And if you have suggestions as to what book or character I should try to do next, please let me know!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Readers

2013-02-01T03:11:00.002-08:00

February 14th is coming up, and I figured a post on gift ideas for the reader/s in your life would be appropriate. Note that this doesn't only apply to this 'holiday,' but pretty much to any day of the year. Here's some things I myself would appreciate, and I know a lot of readers would as well.

1. Art.

A painting or a photograph of a book shop/library, or a print of his/her favorite book. I like the idea of this one sold on Etsy. I also really like the idea of having a copy of his/her favorite poem, printed and framed. You can write on it (if you have flawless handwriting) or print it nicely. Wall decals are also kind of cool.

2. Write something.

If you think you are able to come up with a letter that expresses how you feel about somebody, or write a short story, a poem, an ode, or whatever... WRITE IT. Any reader will agree with me that there's nothing more special than the art of words. Remember though, write it ONLY if you mean it ;)

3. Book Jewelry.

You can't go wrong with this one. Book jewelries are so precious. I personally wish I could buy them all. I would suggest that if you know a specific title that he/she likes, to search for it on Etsy. Most likely, something special will come up.

4. A trip to a bookstore/library. Or a book event.

Any reader appreciates a bookstore trip. What would be even better is that if you can go to a bookstore or a library that he/she has never been to. A simple trip to this place will be special. If both of you have time, make a day out of it. Go to the store, get him/her a book or two, and proceed to # 5.

5. A coffee or cafe date. With a book.

I don't know about you, but I always love it when I can take the time to go to a coffee shop, sit down, and just read. There's something about this seemingly simple activity that I'm in love with. If you are with a writer, sit with him/her as he/she writes. It will mean more to him/her than you think.

6. Books

If you really can't come up with any other ideas, that's okay. A book is always a good idea.

Do you have other gift ideas to add on here? Also, what's the best reading or book-related gift you have ever gotten? Do share!

stress and book buying.

2013-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

I buy books all the time, but there's something about splurging a little when you're feeling a little stressed.

I am guilty of this!

While I very much enjoy going to the mall and shop for clothes here and there, I will say my biggest form of retail therapy is buying books. I am sure you all understand this problem - buying more books than you really need. That saying, "So many books, so little time" definitely rings true, especially when your book order comes in the mail and you realize you have no more space for them in your room/house. Not to mention that you don't really have the time to read one more book... when you have about 100 ones you should be paying attention to first.

I know this is kind of random, but I want to know and hear from you guys because I know for sure I am not alone in this! Do you ever treat yourself to a little retail therapy when stressed out? Do you keep buying books when you don't necessarily need another one? Tell me.

stopping in the middle of a read.

2013-01-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

Do you ever do this? Stop reading a book without finishing it? If so, when do you do it? What makes you decide to just drop the book and give up on it?

I personally have a hard time just 'giving up' on a not-so-good read. I always hope that it will get better, or will pick up, or I will somehow end up liking it. Sometimes though, I have to admit, a bad book is just that - a bad book. If I feel like the story isn't going anywhere, or the direction it's going to isn't something I am remotely interested in, I feel like it's time to put it down.

One example I can think of that made me give up on it is the very popular, The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I'm not sure to this day why people love it so much, as I couldn't get into it at all, but to each his own!

I don't really do this often, because I feel like every book has something to offer, but I know I've thought about it a lot. I also have to admit there have been books that I first wanted to put down but ended up sticking with stuck, and ended up adoring. So for the most part, I try to keep at it.

Do you have any particular books that made you just simply give up on it, or get close to giving up on it and putting it down? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

2013-01-18T00:41:00.001-08:00

This book! I really, really liked it. I read it in a week and probably will reread it again sometime. First off, the story is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It's realistic, and I really liked how the author handled the issues and topics talked about here, such as depression, among others related to this. I felt like everything was handled perfectly.

While the story could just be like any other contemporary fiction, I think what truly made it stand out to me was its main character, Pat. I fell in love with its main character the moment I first started reading about his thoughts. His voice seems so painfully real to me, as if he is simply somebody I knew personally. He is likable enough, and I just couldn't help but not only empathize with him and his situation, but also root for him all the way. It's truly something when you are able to hope for the best for a character.

Everything about this book I truly enjoyed, but I definitely loved the main character and the fact that the author had given him such a loud, realistic voice. I highly recommend this if you enjoy contemporary fiction.

P.S. - The movie was also lovely. Jennifer Lawrence is my favorite and she plays the supporting character flawlessly. Bradley Cooper is Bradley Cooper, and that's enough.

Who should I follow?

2013-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm slowly getting back into blogging again after a long hiatus, and notice that I think I really need to update my feed and the blogs I follow. This of course means I need help from you. Do you have any favorite blogs out there?

I love bookish blogs (not necessarily just review blogs). I like when the blogger has a personable voice, and talks about random things and even personal stuff every now and then. If you feel like your blog is this, or you know of any, please leave the links below.

Also, I still have the giveaway going on. Click here if you'd like to enter. Other than that, I hope you are reading amazing books this week.

Bookish Things I Own and Love

2013-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

As a book lover, bibliophile, and reader, I can't help but be drawn towards bookish things. If they're reading and/or writing related, I'm all for it. Here's some bookish things I own. Some I bought, but most are gifts from family and friends that just know me very well.

My Deathly Hallows necklace from Hot Topic!

A beautiful handmade gift that has all my favorite book quotes.

Sorry it's so inappropriately wrinkly! I bought this at a bookstore in Seattle. I will be doing a review on it on my next post maybe!

Got this butterbeer mug as a souvenir from our April 2012 trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Hogwarts hoodie from Hot Topic.

Jane Eyre scarf from a shop on Etsy. It was a birthday gift and don't recall the Etsy store name.

A typewriter mug from Barnes and Noble.

Two book-looking storage boxes. I think I got it at Michael's.

A gift from someone who knows me so well. Hogwarts houses bookmarks. So lovely.

Another gift from a friend. I believe it's also from an Etsy store, but I don't know which one. But if you search for Harry Potter bracelets or jewelry, a lot of them will show up!

A gift from my aunt. I'm not sure what it is, but they're little handmade Harry Potter copies. There's also only 6 of them, because my niece played with them and lost one of them somehow in my room.

And a wand. It's Harry Potter's official one from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Also a gift.

As you can see, most of this stuff are Harry Potter related things. Haha. I'd love to see the bookish things that you own as well. You can share links below to your own posts (if you have one or if you write one after this) or tweet - @ramblings2010 - or instagram - @jillmray - me the photo!

Blog Birthday + small giveaway

2013-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's official. Random Ramblings is now three years old. Yesterday the 10th was its birthday, and I am so excited that even after a few years, we're still here! Blogging and reading slumps come and go, but the readers and followers of this little blog seem to always stick with me. So thank you if you are one of the 682 followers that have stayed around here, whether you've been here all three years or just followed recently. I loved hearing your thoughts, opinions, recommendations, suggestions, advice, arguments, rants, and raves, and I am looking forward to hearing more of all of the above in the coming years.

Also, I haven't done a giveaway in a while so I thought I'd do a small celebratory one. All you have to do is to be a follower of this blog. Write down your preferred contact email down below. If you've been reading here for a while - just out of curiosity - please let me know if you have any particular favorite post/series of posts on here. If you don't recall, an email will do. The first prize is a book or item of your choice at Book Depository for up to $20. If there's more than 50 entries, one can win a book/item of choice for up to $10 worth at Book Depository.

Thanks again. Happy New Year! <3>

rate 2012 + resolutions?

2013-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

We here rate books all the time. I figured though since it's 2013 and we're all looking forward to a fresh new year ahead, I would ask you guys two things:

1. If you could rate your entire 2012 from 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest) what would you rate it? You can elaborate on why you rated it that way, but I guess I'm just curious.

2. Do you have any new year's resolutions? And do you firmly believe you would keep it?

I would rate 2012 with an 8. An 8 is awesome, I think. There's plenty of room to grow and improve, but overall, it was a happy time. Compared to 2011 (which I will rate as a 5.5) that is a huge step up. I am most definitely looking forward to this year. And as far as resolutions go, mine would be to blog more. I love blogging. I can't quit it. I hate it when I have a blogging slump. So my goal is to inspire myself even more to continue on here. Try something new. Write more. Write better. Learn basic photography. Comment on people's posts. And of course, be happy.

Cheers to the new year!

The Bell Jar + Seattle

2013-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Since I haven't yet found the 'perfect' next book to cure this incredibly annoying reading slump disease, I decided to reread a book I read and liked a lot. Now I'm only a few chapters in this book, but reading it makes me realize that this really must be one of my favorites. It's a very depressing book to read, but it's such a great and realistic work nonetheless. I highly recommend you read it at least once if you haven't already.

In other news, I am currently in Seattle, Washington for a mini vacation. I'm only here until Friday so I thought I'd ask you guys if you're from here - or have visited here before - if there are certain bookstores I MUST visit.

Also, I am curious to know what you LAST read and what you are currently reading at the moment. Let me know! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and have a great new year ahead!

Instagram. I caved.

2012-12-28T03:57:00.001-08:00

I got it. After saying no to getting an Instagram account, I caved. Add me and follow me. I post pretty random photos - some book related and some not. If you have an account, leave it down below.

username - JILLMRAY

:) I hope you all are having an awesome holiday!

used books and where they come from.

2012-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to do, being a reader, is to go book shopping. I don't do it often though, and when I do, I usually buy online now. A few days ago, though I went to a used bookstore around my area. I was trying to look for a specific gift for someone, and while I was perusing through the titles, I found one book that was exactly what I wanted.

I opened it, and this was what fell on the floor.

An old receipt from BORDERS! I'm sure most of you remember Borders. It used to be one of my favorite places - until they closed all their stores in the U.S. Anyway, this receipt dates back to November 13, 2008. Same month. Different year.

And it got me wondering about whoever it was that originally bought and owned this book. Why did they sell it at a used bookstore? Was it because they didn't like it? Was it because they didn't have a use for it anymore? It was a Field Guide to Professional Digital Photography book, and it made me wonder also, where are they now? What happened to their interest in Photography? Are they actually professional now? Or what?

Maybe it sounds stupid that I was thinking all these things, but I couldn't help it. There's just something so intriguing about finding someone else's belongings from a while ago.

Have you ever found anyone similar to this? And also, if you go to used bookstores, do you ever think about who owned the book/s prior? It may be a silly thought, but it's a thought nonetheless!

Happy Monday.

In 2012, I read less than 20 books

2012-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well there we have it.

2012 is almost over.

I think it's safe now to say that I have read less than 20 books this year.

I never really started counting the number of books I read in a year since 2010, but I know I've always read more than twenty for sure. And no, I don't necessarily care about the number. I do care, though, about the reason behind this inevitable slump.

I am not sure it's cured quite yet, but I'm writing here and talking about reading and books and commenting on people talking about books... so maybe that's a start!

That being said, I am so out of the loop. I haven't read one good book in months. I don't know anything about new releases, unexpected must-reads, and highly recommended titles. So please do recommend away. I am open to any genre. It just needs to be something YOU thought was amazing.

What to Watch this December

2012-12-07T01:46:00.004-08:00

Going to the movies is one of my favorite things to do. This December, it looks like I'd have to save up for those tickets! Here are some picks that I want to see myself, and think you should go check out too.

1. Les Miserables - December 25

The trailer for this movie... gives me chills EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I can't wait for this. It looks like it will be such a masterpiece. While the music has always been familiar to me, I recently just saw the play live for the very first time during the Summer of this year, so it's still very much fresh in my mind. I can't wait. Anne Hathaway looks like she will be amazing.

2. This Is 40 - December 21

Okay, so maybe I won't see it, but I might! I can see watching this on a lazy rainy day, with a girl friend, when there's nothing else for us to do. It could be fun and it has Paul Rudd in it, who is usually on point! I like the seemingly light premise, so hey, like I said... maybe.

3. Django Unchained - December 25

Quentin Tarantino's films are always crazy and insane and out there, and they're either a hit or a miss for me. I do want to see this because it has Christoph Waltz in it (who was the main villain in Inglourious Basterds - which is probably one of my favorite movies) as well as Leonardo di Caprio. It seems to have the same dark humor Tarantino films usually have, and I may or may not enjoy it. Seems promising though.

4. The Hobbit - December 14

There are no words.

See you at the movies!

the last book I read.

2012-11-30T00:28:00.001-08:00

I bought this book the morning it was released. I was anticipating to get my hands on it since they announced that my favorite author - and probably one of my biggest inspirations - is releasing a new book! I went into this lowering my expectations, knowing very well that I was reading an 'adult' novel. I finished it in about a week, and I was beyond sad for a while knowing I'd have to give it a 2 star rating.

What went wrong?

I think the characters went wrong mainly. There were just too many of them, and none of them were developed well enough for me to care about them. I didn't care if this person died or lived or got hurt or what... I just didn't care. The truth is, while reading this book, I just kept hoping it would end soon.
The plot was alright, but again, it just didn't seem like it was something I should care for.

I have to say the writing as expected is good. Simply put, Rowling knows how to paint a picture in her reader's mind. Or maybe, at least in my mind.

2 stars though, is all I can give for this unfortunately.

living with the worst case of reading slump ever.

2012-11-20T00:45:00.000-08:00

I'm wondering if you still have any go-to bookstores around you or at least near your area. Here where I live, there's literally none. I have to drive at least 20 miles just for the nearest big box bookstore. This may not be a big deal for most people, but for me - as I'm sure you all can understand - this is an upsetting thing. I haven't really gone in a bookstore in a very long time where I live, and I truly think the lack of these visits - that used to inspire and motivate me to keep trying new titles and authors - have contributed to my lack of posts here. I miss blogging, I miss talking about books, and I definitely miss reading.

Lately I just have been so uninspired. This is probably the biggest reading slump I have ever had, and I am not a fan of it.

I know a lot of you can understand that it's a big deal, and may have gone through the same thing. Your thoughts, as always, are more than welcome here. Thanks for listening.