Random Ramblings

STORY OF MY LIFE.

2012-01-27T06:18:00.000-08:00

Thought this was so true and hilarious I just had to share with all of you.

And speaking of, I'm curious to know what you all are reading currently.

Other than that, happy Friday, everyone!

little things like these make my day.

2012-01-23T23:59:00.001-08:00

Since I've been having a horrible reading slump these past few months, I haven't bought or read a single book. Yesterday though, I finally, thankfully, felt this sudden craving to get a new book. I missed this feeling so much. So today, I decided to get one that I've been really wanting to read for a while now - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

I think I can safely say, having read all of his books now - except for Paper Towns - that John Green has definitely made it to my top 'inspirational people' list. He is an amazing writer, author, person, spokesperson, and of course, an awesome leader of an even more awesome community called Nerdfighteria.

That being said, I was ecstatic when I saw it was available.

And not just available.

It was SIGNED.

And as if those weren't enough, when I turned to the first chapter, a little friendly note surprised me.

It just literally made my day so much better.

Made me proud being part of John Green and his brother, Hank Green's, huge and awesome project even more.

Has this ever happened to you?

Found a note inside a book? Feels so much personal that way for some reason.

Anyway, share your stories! And if you are familiar with the vlogbrothers.... then, DFTBA!

book to movie adaptations I can't wait to see.

2012-01-23T00:42:00.001-08:00

2012 seems to be a promising year for movies. While I am so very excited for movies like the Avengers and the Dark Knight Rises, I mostly can't wait for the book-to-movie adaptations that are coming out.

***

One of those films I can't wait to see is The Woman in Black, which is an adaptation of the 1983 thriller/horror novel by Susan Hill. The premise and plot line of this story is as eerie and intriguing as it can be, and the trailer for it looks like it might live up to the novel. Also, Daniel Radcliffe leads the cast here, and let's be honest - I am not even going to try denying it - that is Harry Potter right there. Of course I'll pay to see him on the big screen again. Thankfully, this film will come out soon - February 10, to be exact.

Another movie I can't wait to see is The Perks of being a Wallflower. This was an awesome read for me back in high school. The cool thing is that the screenwriter and director for this is the author of the book himself, which I think makes this project an even more promising one. Also, Emma Watson is playing as one of the main characters. (See a trend here?)

Of course, The Hunger Games. The trailer for this looks amazing. It looks dark and thrilling; just the way it should be. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one! And yes, I am definitely lining up for a midnight showing.

The Great Gatsby. Leonardio di Caprio as Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy... need I say more? This movie project intrigues me the most. I always think it's more difficult to make classic novels into movies, but that's just me. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Last but certainly not the least, I am extremely excited for The Hobbit coming out December of this year. There are seriously no words to describe how ecstatic I was when I first saw its trailer. It looks epic already.

***

So... are you looking forward to watching any of these films I can't wait to see this year? Do you have any other book-to-movie adaptations to add to this list? Let me know!

look how awesome.

2012-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Found this online and I couldn't help but smile.

the worst reading slump in two years.

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

I have blogged time and time again about this happening. Reading slumps are inevitable; we all know they're bound to happen. So usually when it does happen, I just have to stop reading, and carry on. Sooner or later, I will start to miss it.

Unfortunately for me, this slump doesn't seem like it's going away.

I have not read a single book in two months.

I haven't felt excited about picking up a book or talking about anything reading-related in a while now.

Surely there's something wrong with me. Tell me how to get over this odd bump, because I do miss the feeling. Not entirely sure how. Just give it time, I guess?

So tell me, what gets you over a reading slump? What gets you inspired to pick up a book again? And if there are any specific titles that never fails to do the trick, please recommend them!

this little blog is now two!

2012-01-10T01:36:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable. Random Ramblings is officially two years old. Thank you for all the support, as always, despite me ironically having a horrible reading slump at the moment.. we shall talk again soon <3

how many books did you read + 2012 goals

2012-01-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

In 2010, I was able to reach my annual goal of reading 100 books a year for the first time, reading about 120 books. In 2011, it may be that things have just been more hectic around here, or I haven't really found a new 'favorite.' Maybe it's the combination of that plus being lazy. Haha. Regardless, I'm happy I was able to read a few memorable ones out of the 70 books I was able to read.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Watchers by Dean Koontz
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker - no review yet

This new year, I would like to be able to read at least 100 books again. This may or may not happen, but it's fun trying to reach the goal anyway.

I'm curious as to how you did in 2011 and what your reading goals are this 2012! What were your favorites from the past year? Let me know so I could check those out too. I hope you are having a wonderful start of the new year!

last day of the year.

2011-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing you nothing but a good New Year's Eve tomorrow and a good New Year's Day.

I hope you had an overall amazing time in 2011. For me, it has been a crazy ride. There's been many ups and downs. Thankfully, this year is ending very, very well.

So Thanks for sticking with me throughout this year - reading with me, blogging with me, and sharing stories with me. I appreciate every conversation, and I hope to see you again next year <3

!!!! movie trailer alert !!!!

2011-12-21T07:46:00.001-08:00

You guys!!! I've been a bad blogger. I told myself I was going to blog everyday this December, at least up to Christmas, but things have been crazy around here. A bad combo of finals week, weeks leading up to finals week, and an awful reading slump has restricted me from writing and checking your blogs too. So I'm sorry. I feel like this post will get me back on track though, because I'm pretty excited over this.

Sooooo...

I had to write this post really quickly because I know, nobody else would get more excited about this than you! The trailer for the Hobbit, coming out December 2012, was released yesterday, I believe. And can I just say... goosebumps! ;)

Enjoy!

Christmas Gift Idea: Bookish Jewelry

2011-12-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

If you're not sure what to get a bookish friend or a family member of yours for Christmas, and you think they might like book-related jewelry things, check out just some of these finds from Etsy.

I personally love browsing at Etsy, as you find so many cool things over there! I have to warn you it can be dangerous though, because you might want to just buy everything.

buy here

What do you give someone who loves books as much as we do? Aside from actual books, of course... let me know!

Book Recommendation of the Week

2011-12-02T03:42:00.000-08:00

I haven't done one of these 'book recommendations of the week' in a while, so I thought I should. And to be honest, with all the books I've specifically recommended before, I am not sure why I have never suggested Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, when it actually may be one of my favorites!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Genre: Science Fiction

When I Read It: 2010

Initial Impression: I used to be not into science fiction as much for some odd reason. It's not like I didn't like the genre, because I obviously enjoyed sci-fi movies and shows. Unfortunately, as far as books go, I have just never found a read that I enjoyed. So, when I picked this up, mainly because of countless suggestions from guy friends (including my brother) I was a bit skeptical.

What I Thought: I LOVED IT.

Why I Loved It: It had everything I would want in a sci-fi/adventure/fantasy type of novel. It was intriguing and interesting, engaging and exciting. I had a hard time putting it down, and I was just so into the entire story and the entire world the author created. Also, I absolutely adored the main characters. And for such a character-driven story, that part was crucial. To me, I was completely immersed in what was going on. Simply put, it's an entertaining story, and it's told perfectly.

Who Should Read It: To be honest, I think everyone should pick this one up and try it out. It's one of those books that can be good for everyone. It doesn't really matter what type of reader you are - and how old or how young you are - it's still going to be a good story at the end of the day.

hello, December!

2011-12-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

My favorite time of the year is finally here!

I can't even tell you how excited I am for this month! From little things like the weather to the clothes that come with the weather to other things like the parties and events with family and friends, the festive mood everyone seems to have, the non-stop Christmas music we hear everywhere, the yummy holiday drinks, the holiday shopping, gift giving, and of course, the free time we get to actually lounge around and get some holiday reading done.

I'm also planning to blog every day until Christmas day, which I'm excited about! It should be fun, especially now that I should get more free time! Feel free to join me if you'd like.

So... that being said, here's to December 2011. Tell me your favorite things about the month! And of course, here's me wishing you have an amazing, memorable one. Have fun, be safe, be happy. And as always, happy reading <3

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Genre: Young Adult - paranormal

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I'm a sucker for creepy, eerie stories, especially when they're set somewhere with such a rich history. And the fact that it surrounds a mysterious figure such as Jack the Ripper makes it even more intriguing to read and learn more about. I was thoroughly entertained and was into the story all throughout.

I especially liked the way the author, Maureen Johnson, took a paranormal route to the story as well - made it even more surprisingly original and fresh. As for her writing, I think she did a great job painting a picture for her readers. As I was reading this book, I found it easy to imagine myself actually living where the story itself takes place - in a beautiful city like London, in a mysterious boarding school like Wexford. I also liked the way she developed the plot naturally. It didn't appear to be rushed, forced, or contrived in any way.

I have to admit though that while the characters are cool to get to know as I was reading the book, now, days after finishing it, I've come to realize they're forgettable to me. This doesn't make them bad characters; just not necessarily favorites or stand-outs to me.

Overall, I really loved the premise for this book. It was highly intriguing and interesting, suspenseful and exciting. Even though none of the characters stood out to me, I still enjoyed it. Is it as good as everyone claims it to be? Maybe not for me. I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. I would still, however, recommend it to anybody who likes eerie stories and the paranormal genre! I don't think you'd be disappointed.

your favorite love stories.

2011-11-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been reading about not so heartwarming things. Zombies, vampires, dystopian fiction, mystery/crime thrillers, horror... the list goes on. I thought I should use December, which is my favorite time of the year, to catch up on love stories for a change.

To be honest, I am not much of a romance reader, but if you have any suggestions and recommendations, please tell me! Contemporary love stories would be best, but I welcome any kind, really. You already know I'll be ready to list them all down and get them from the library. So thanks, as always, and I hope you all are having a great November so far :)

p.s. - I am aware that this is the second 'recommend me something' post this week! I am having a bad reading slump that I want so badly to go away before December arrives!

reading goals and recommendations

2011-11-19T00:00:00.001-08:00

Last year, I was able to read 102 books, and to be honest, I didn't even have any trouble doing so. There were just too many books to pick up and I was excited to dig into all of them. Back in January, I told myself I'd read 100 books again this year. But if you look at my 2011 reading list so far, you can see that I'm not even close. Also, unfortunately, I have not found any particular books that I found that I LOVED. I liked and enjoyed most of them, but didn't really find any favorite.

That being said, I would like to ask you again for recommendations. Please recommend a favorite of yours! I would like to read good books for December, so please, suggest away!

Here's to me hoping you have already found a favorite so far this year! Happy Reading!

Hunger Games!!!

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

I can not wait for this. It looks like it's going to be really good!

I do hope that they capture and show the darkness and violence that the series has well, because I think that's one of the things that makes the Hunger Games work, at least for me.

And if you're like me, you have probably watched the trailer repeatedly since it came out Monday. What do you think of it?

this. is. what. I. WANT. for. Christmas.

2011-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's very expensive for what it is, but it is just soooo lovely. If you want one, you can check out the shop. There are some more designs, but I love this one because it looks like a classic. Well, quite literally.

If I got the Harry Potter Bluray set (8 films) instead though, I wouldn't complain either.

the character tag.

2011-11-08T00:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, so I thought I should do one. I honestly have no idea where this one started from, so let me know if you know. If you would like to answer these questions, go ahead and link them below. Or just leave a comment, really.

1. Which character would you throw out the window?

Bella Swan. So needy, self-conscious, self-important, and weak. My own opinion only, of course.

2. Which character would be your best friend?

Realistically, I think I'd most likely be best friends with Ginny Weasley and/or Percy Jackson. They're both confident, strong, courageous, and beautiful people, who loves family and friends, but would rather not have the spotlight on them if they had a choice.

3. If you could make a character come to life, who would it be?

Katniss Everdeen. I think she could be a really important person in our society today.

4. What traits do you look for in a character?

It obviously depends on who the character is; the important thing for me is that they are as realistic and believable as possible.

5. What would you change in your favorite character?

My favorite characters are Snape and Ron, and I do not want to change anything about them!

6. Favorite male/female character?

Male - Snape. Female - Jane Eyre

7. What two characters from different books would you put together?

Katniss Everdeen and Hermione Granger.

8. Favorite book couple?

Ron and Hermione, Jamie and Langdon (A Walk to Remember), Liesel and Rudy (The Book Thief)

9. Cutest character?

Luna Lovegood. I actually wanted her to end up with Harry. They'd balance each other out so well, I think.

***

Happy Tuesday, Happy reading, Happy survey-answering!

the Vampire Diaries.

2011-11-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

When this show started about two years ago, I intentionally ignored it. For some reason, I had this vision in my head that it was going to be sameoldsameold - it was going to copy Twilight and was going to showcase a typical love story between a vampire and a human. I used to even laugh at it when I'd see commercials for it.

Then one day, I was sick and very bored. I logged on to my Netflix account only to find that they just added the entire show. So being the bored person that I was that couldn't think of anything else interesting to do, I decided to watch the Pilot episode.... after all, everybody kept telling me that it's really good, that I might like it...

so I saw the first episode, and continued clicking, watching the next episode... and the next and the next. And I have to say; it was awesome.

Two weeks later, here I am, done with Season 1 and 2, and I can't stop thinking about Season 3 (just saw episode 8!) to the point that I have decided to actually write a post about it.

Everything about it is just great. The writing, the plot development, the scenes, and of course, the characters. And while it can sometimes be cheesy at times, believe me, it's in a very good-guilty-pleasure-not-cliche kind of way. The best part is that they have actually brought back scary and evil vampires. And guess what? They DO NOT sparkle!

Anyway, my point is, if you like supernatural/paranormal shows, try this out. It's obviously geared more towards the 'YA crowd' - it's no True Blood if you know what I mean - but to be honest, I actually like that about it.

My other point is; Don't judge it like I did for two years. It's good. I really enjoy it. If you do too, let me know so we can gush about it.

P.S. - Damon... is... <3

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Genre: Young Adult - contemporary

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This book was a bit of a disappointment, for me, personally. I do not think it’s a bad read at all, because I quite enjoyed my time reading it, but for some reason, for me, it’s very forgettable. While the premise is interesting, the execution lacked, and while the writing is good, it didn’t “speak” to me. I also felt like the characters were not introduced or developed well enough, to the poifnt that I feel like I never got to know them that well.

Overall the whole story didn’t seem realistic and believable enough to root for. Maybe it’s because two writers worked on this – that could perhaps have had an impact on the story’s delivery and development? I’m not sure, but for some reason, the two sides of the story – using two narrators and all – didn’t seem to work. In fact, it seemed contrived and forced, and obvious that actual authors are speaking, and not necessarily the characters themselves, if that makes any sense at all.

I really wanted to like this. The idea of two strangers turning into lovers all because of a dreamy bookstore and a beautiful city sounds so wonderful. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.

halloweeenyyy

2011-11-01T01:40:00.001-07:00

Hope you had a fantastic weekend and Halloween Monday!!

I look silly. Haha.

If you have pictures, I would like to see as well!!

Have a great week ahead.

Happy reading!

a costume, a shirt, and a book.

2011-10-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what I'm going to be for Halloween?

It's probably not such an obvious costume to be honest - unlike my Snow White costume from last year - but I really like it nonetheless.

In other news, look at the shirt my sister got me!!! SO FREAKING COOL.

And that book? I'm currently reading it. So far so good.

What are you all up to this weekend and on Monday? And let me know what you are reading!

this blog in 5 years.

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

I had a very interesting conversation with a good friend of mine today. We were talking over the phone, and the topic of this blog came up. I try to NOT talk about my blogging with other people to be honest - I'm just naturally secretive when it comes to my bookish and nerdy side - but she did raise an important and rather thought-provoking question that I had to think about.

1. Where do you see your blog in 5 years?

I have to admit I haven't really thought of this blog's future. I kind of like the fact that I go through this bookish journey with you guys day by day, week by week... and not more than that. But it did get me thinking - where is this blog going?

I honestly still have no idea for sure. but I would like to think that:

In 5 years, I'd still go through my day, excited to get to talk to you guys about some of my favorite things; books, life, inspiration, writing, literature... among many other things.
In 5 years, I would still have the same enthusiasm that I have for this fun and inspiring hobby of mine.
In 5 years, I would still continue to enjoy reading and recommending good titles, and continue getting so many ideas from you.
In 5 years, I am still internet-friends with a lot of you, and that I can make more!

2. Do you ever see yourself NOT blogging anymore?

Honestly, right now, the answer is NO. Having been spoiled rotten with awesome conversations with you guys, I can't really see myself stopping!

So now... I'd like to ask you the same questions. Tell me! I'd love to know what you think.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

2011-10-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Genre: Young Adult - contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Review: John Green's one of those writers that you either really, really love, or you just don't get. I've discovered, after reading two of his books - and currently reading another one - that I'm most definitely one of those who simply love his writing style. It's certainly not for everyone, as it is quite different and unique. I enjoy it, and fortunately for me, that unique writing style was apparent in this book.

I found it smart, witty, and fresh. This made the character's voice really come through, which makes him sound unpretentious to me. And speaking of the character/s, I'm happy to say that they also came to life. They seemed like actual people to me - almost like they were just my friends that I talk to or hang out with everyday. They were likable and unlikable characters at the same time, which ultimately makes them believable.

If you are looking for a John Green book to start with, I'd still highly recommend Looking for Alaska first (I haven't read the rest, but will do so soon) before this one. Would I recommend this book exactly? Like I mentioned, it's an either you like it or you don't situation. Personally I thought An Abundance of Katherines was a fun and smart read. It didn't bore me, and I was thoroughly entertained. I also was able to take a couple of great quotes from here, which is always a good thing, and to be honest, have actually learned a thing or two from them. I'd say that's totally 4-star material right there.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-10-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 2 stars

Review: Here's the thing - this book offers its readers so many good things. Beautiful images, well-thought out characters, magical settings, and a poetic writing style. It's such an exceptionally gorgeous looking and sounding novel, and I commend the author for creating such a lovely world.

Unfortunately, I honestly felt like its magic and its beauty was only from the outside - the story itself didn't grab hold of me. It didn't make me fall in love. Even though I can see why so many people rave about it, there were a couple of reasons why I do not feel the same:

it's excessively descriptive - The descriptions are beautiful, but they were just way too many of them. The descriptions and details just kept going on and on. I found myself getting extremely bored and annoyed with them! I constantly wanted something - some sort of action or event - to actually happen, but nothing does, because the author is still too busy describing.

there's too many characters at once - I like a good cast of characters, but I felt like for this one, too many were introduced at once. It was almost hard to catch up with everyone, and it was hard to remember them due to lack of realistic personalities.

plot and character development - To put it simply, I saw none.

felt a bit misleading - Reading its intriguing synopsis, you'd expect an action-packed story about the circus, and the people who work there. You would also expect some sort of romance in there, when in fact, I actually could not see much of the romance aspect.

a bit confusing - the timeline! I didn't get it, and I really, really paid attention to it. The narration felt forced.

So overall, I just felt like The Night Circus was all about setting the tone and the mood - which usually I would be perfectly okay with, if the story itself delivered as well. Unfortunately, for me at least, it did not deliver at all. I finished this book, feeling as if I have not really read a story, like I haven't really gotten to know the characters that well. So no, I do not recommend this to people at all. However, almost everyone that read this absolutely loved it, so I could be wrong. Sadly, even though its premise sounds like my kind of read, it just didn't go very well for me.