tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17861268735462516712024-02-06T19:57:17.789-08:00Confessions of a LitwitMaking my way, one book at a time...Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-86040545224562952992015-08-08T18:40:00.000-07:002015-08-08T18:40:45.980-07:00Book Review: Paper Towns<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8123162-paper-towns" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Paper Towns" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349013763m/8123162.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8123162-paper-towns">Paper Towns</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1406384.John_Green">John Green</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/527183118">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I'm having a difficult...<br><br>I really wish I could...<br><br>Words are not so much with me right now.<br><br>THIS BOOK. While I LOVED The Fault in Our Stars (and I believe that John Green and Hank Green are helping to create a generation of thinking, reading, deep, pensive, adventurous, brave teens- #Nerdfighters!), I did not expect to love this book.<br><br>I loved it from the get-go. The characters are beautifully flawed and pained and REAL. I couldn't help telling my fiancé that I know these kids. They aren't named Margo, Quentin, Radar, Ben, Lacey, and Angela, but I know them. They are teens I've encountered in my years in the classroom. <br><br>And they are the minority. <br><br>John Green is making it okay for the smart, kind kids to BE smart and kind, to show that they have multiple dimensions. There are some who always have been and always will be, that's for certain, but for those who feel two-dimensional, like they have to hide or cover the cracks in themselves from everyone else in high school or even as young adults, John Green shows those kids a reality where that's okay. He shows them how we are all cracked and sinking to an inevitable end, and it's okay for us to live and embrace our cracks and look at one another truthfully and with dimension. <br><br>I LOVE THIS BOOK. TFIOS was a 4.5 by comparison, but this is definitely a solid 5. I want to hug each of these kids and tell them how proud I am of them and how I think that they are so courageous and smart and funny. <br><br>READ IT.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-85988574446271125732014-11-04T08:54:00.000-08:002014-11-04T08:54:26.145-08:00Book Review: Wild Magic by Tamora PIerce<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13836.Wild_Magic" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Wild Magic (Immortals, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386922893m/13836.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13836.Wild_Magic">Wild Magic</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596.Tamora_Pierce">Tamora Pierce</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/170252543">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This series consumed my youth. I LOVED these novels as a kid. After re-reading, I understand why. <br><br>Things I liked:<br>-great character development<br>-interesting, fast-paced plot<br>-there are no lags in the story<br>-the world and the characters are charismatic and beautiful<br>-tactful dealing with difficult issues<br><br><br>Things I Didn't Like:<br>-sometimes predictable<br>-somewhat optimistic: many of the plans succeed. I would like to see more struggle.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-74467230287445119212014-10-30T10:23:00.000-07:002014-10-30T10:23:59.226-07:00Book Review: Beautiful Creatures Manga, (Caster Chronicles #1) by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl & art by Cassandra Jean<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17242197-beautiful-creatures" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Beautiful Creatures: The Graphic Novel (Caster Chronicles)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362474630m/17242197.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17242197-beautiful-creatures">Beautiful Creatures: The Graphic Novel</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2895706.Kami_Garcia">Kami Garcia</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1092141668">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I will preclude this review by saying I have never seen the film or read the novel version of this story, but now, I'm planning on doing both.<br><br>What I Liked:<br>-great characterization (for everyone except Lena)<br>-impacting images<br>-artistic symbolism and imagery<br>-interesting blending of supernatural/fantasy mythos<br>-elements of mystery<br>-beautiful art (other reviewers have complained about the sketchy style, but I think it added a depth and rawness to the characters)<br><br><br>What I Didn't Like:<br>-distinct lack of Southern culture<br>-Lena felt very flat until the end. There was no character progression for her until the final few pages.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-48509830087761891512014-10-27T09:14:00.003-07:002014-10-27T09:14:41.654-07:00Book Review: Gandhi: A Manga Biography by Kazuki Ebine<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11821529-gandhi" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Gandhi: A Manga Biography" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311702720m/11821529.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11821529-gandhi">Gandhi: A Manga Biography</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5110310.Kazuki_Ebine">Kazuki Ebine</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1084773792">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This manga was a solid 3. There are things that could have been improved upon, but overall, I enjoyed it and learned a great deal.<br><br>Pros: <br>-the transitions of Gandhi's lifetime were made clear (sometimes with manga, the passage of time is not made so clear)<br>-the different perspectives were refreshing<br>-the dialogue was human and was excellent integrating real quotes from Gandhi's life<br><br>Cons:<br>-the editor/translator should have paid better attention. There are many misspellings in the dialogue<br>-sometimes the transitions from one character to another were abrupt
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-18633833857202351012014-10-17T10:32:00.000-07:002014-10-17T10:32:31.087-07:00Book Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The_Name_of_the_Wind" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1270352123m/186074.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186074.The_Name_of_the_Wind">The Name of the Wind</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/108424.Patrick_Rothfuss">Patrick Rothfuss</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1025897529">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I won't lie to you. I probably would never have read this if my boyfriend had not been so incredibly passionate about it. <br><br>I would have missed out on a story that may very well do for my adulthood what Harry Potter accomplished in my youth.<br><br>Things I loved:<br>-Kvothe's character development was astounding. Seeing his past self and his future self side by side gives such a significant juxtaposition between then and now.<br>-The side characters are just as amazing. They have depth and breadth and lives that are just as complex as Kvothe's, and Rothfuss treats them with human respect.<br>-The story was beautiful, intricate and detailed yet still wild and unkempt, just like traditional oral epics. There is a method to this madness.<br>-The world. Rothfuss has created a mysterious world full of familiar faces that I just wanted to learn more about (and I will continue to in book 2). <br><br>Things I did not care so much for:<br>-Repetitious phrasing (usually in descriptions). When Rothfuss said something he liked, he returned to it.<br>-References back to foreshadowing<br>-There were some typos and grammatical errors (but that's more on the editor than the writer)<br><br>I loved this novel and I'm ready to get back to this world.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-54525949035698026132014-08-04T10:02:00.000-07:002014-08-04T10:02:02.851-07:00Book Review: The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/81107.The_Energy_Bus" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388179875m/81107.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/81107.The_Energy_Bus">The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/46174.Jon_Gordon">Jon Gordon</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1013515463">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I read this as continuing education for my school per request of my principal. This is a solid 3 star book, and I'll tell you why. The beginning was good, but toward the end, it started to feel too fluffy. I would have liked to see some real challenges overcome through being positive and patient. I mean, it's likely I missed the point. <br><br>I've always considered myself a positive person and a great many of those rules are applicable in life as well as within my faith. I think a true cynic would get nothing from this book, but I still agree with the premise.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-89193835490029924162014-07-27T19:48:00.000-07:002014-07-27T19:48:03.807-07:00Book Review: Still Life by Louise Penny<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3292459-still-life" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327882933m/3292459.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3292459-still-life">Still Life</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/194243.Louise_Penny">Louise Penny</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/988488045">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I feel like my review is probably NOT the most accurate because mysteries are generally not my cup of tea, however, Still Life is the exception. Still Life is like a strong cup of Earl Grey with just enough kick and a little sugar thrown into the mix. <br><br>The beginning was slow. I'll tell you that right off, but so many first novels in series are slow. The world, characters, and environment have to be set up, understandably. Once you get past the set-up, however, there is no turning back. <br><br>The characters are flawed and beautiful. It is quite rare that one finds a novel with characters who are so inherently human that you understand them, even to the point of committing murder. More than anything else, however, Still Life is about relationships. There are breathtaking and sometimes poignant romantic relationships, complex mentor/mentee relationships, and relationships among friends and neighbors in a small town. There are quirky and enigmatic side characters whose stories I so DESPERATELY want to know! <br><br>On a technical note, there were some grammatical errors and typos, but Louise Penny's style makes them almost unnoticeable. She switches seamlessly from one perspective to another- sometimes with as many as three or four perspectives on one page. It makes for a fast-paced read.<br><br>I will continue this series because I've fallen in love with Three Pines (and who doesn't have at least a little crush on Jean Guy Beauvoir?)<br><br><br>
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-9187581007308015352014-07-17T08:30:00.000-07:002014-07-17T08:31:04.447-07:00Book Review: Book Love<br />
The Book Hacker is back! Sorry for my temporary absence. In the past few months, I've experienced a break-up, got a new (and AMAZING) job, relocated my entire life, and attempted to adjust to all of it.<br />
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I'm so excited that this is my first book to review since my sabbatical. I highly recommend it!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15858200-book-love" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355066287m/15858200.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15858200-book-love">Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/275076.Penny_Kittle">Penny Kittle</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/979057090">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I've only been on the teacher side of the desk for four years, but I'm thoroughly convinced that this idea is what's going to change education. It would have changed my education for sure. Penny Kittle clearly knows the students of today.<br />
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Not only does she enlighten on her philosophy, but she also elaborates on practical ways educators could apply this in the classroom. My whole classroom format will change because I read this book and I believe my students will be better for it.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-40538624473334884022013-10-08T18:55:00.002-07:002013-10-09T06:41:41.183-07:00Teaser Tuesday: Not a Drop to Drink<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">play along!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Just do the following:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Grab your current read.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Open to a random page.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">From Chapter Twelve of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mindymcginnis" target="_blank">Mindy McGinnis's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-Drop-Drink-Mindy-McGinnis/dp/0062198505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380510332&sr=8-1&keywords=mindy+mcginnis" target="_blank">Not a Drop to Drink</a>: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>In the dark field, it felt to Lynn like predators </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>would see Lucy not only as the easiest target </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>but also as Lynn's weakness as well. </i></span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">She hoped </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Lucy could feel the affection </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>coursing </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>through </i></span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">her fingers, </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>even though the </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><i>grip on her tiny wrist was iron</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">As I've mentioned before on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MsBookHacker" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">, but not on here, I am SO excited about this novel! I got to visit the Dark Days panel at ATBF a couple weeks ago and let me tell you, Mindy McGinnis is incredibly charming and an absolute delight in person. Her dark YA novel sounds like one I can really sink my teeth into. I just got it from Amazon today, so I'll let you know how it goes!</span></div>
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-87213097483407435862013-10-07T19:18:00.002-07:002013-10-07T19:18:54.043-07:00Book Review: Peter Pan<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16233191-peter-pan" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Peter Pan" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1354613604m/16233191.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16233191-peter-pan">Peter Pan</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5255014.J_M_Barrie">J.M. Barrie</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/165535323">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I've read this before but it's been ages. I love the tale of Peter Pan and Wendy, of the Lost Boys and poor, arrogant Captain Hook, and reading it again via audio certainly gave me a new appreciation for the Boy Who Will Never Grow Up and the Girl Who Wanted to Grow Up. <br><br>It's a beautiful story, and the audio, narrated by Jim Dale who also read the Harry Potter audio books, is breathtaking. I wish I had heard this before I read it in book form because it truly is one of those books made to be read aloud. Jim Dale does every single voice differently and is able to capture these personalities with skill and imagination. <br><br>Reading this is truly like a return to childhood, to a self you forgot you knew.<br><br>Just like Peter, this book awaits children and adults everywhere who may have forgotten the beauty of imagination and the power of hope and joy.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5223525-hacker-the-litwit">View all my reviews</a>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-63268630882413163252013-10-06T10:39:00.001-07:002013-10-06T10:39:44.041-07:00Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Fault in Our Stars" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360206420m/11870085.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars">The Fault in Our Stars</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1406384.John_Green">John Green</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/282956172">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I know other reviewers have used words such as "blase" (which, to be fair, is quite 'blase' in and of itself) to describe this novel, but let's get down to the nitty gritty of it all. I know it's the "hip" thing to not like the books everybody else is reading and, honestly, before I picked up one of John Green's novels (this is my first, but NOT my last) I figured he had to be overrated. <br><br>I. Was. Wrong.<br><br>Write that in your datebooks because I don't say it often, but I was very wrong in my prejudgment of this novel. <br><br>Pros:<br>The characters are charming, poignant, and painfully real. In the face of tragedies too huge for most adults to experience with a smile, they manage to insert light, carefree, intellectual humor. I laughed as much as I cried in this novel, and let me tell you, that's saying something. Green does not romanticize the struggle with cancer, but rather gets deeper into the fact that no matter how old a person is, he or she has an identity. No matter what their struggle, they have a sense of humor and the ability to be a beautiful soul. The love story here is one of the truest and greatest I've ever read, perhaps because of the short time frame, perhaps because of the circumstances. I don't know. Either way, it's a book I will use in my classroom and recommend to anyone I meet. <br><br>Cons:<br>... I can't really think of any, unless you include massive emotional upheaval and tear-wrenching catharsis.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-29551878213496776582013-10-06T10:27:00.000-07:002013-10-06T10:27:35.937-07:00Book Review: Where the Stars Still Shine<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15826648-where-the-stars-still-shine" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Where the Stars Still Shine" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361985398m/15826648.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15826648-where-the-stars-still-shine">Where the Stars Still Shine</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4382157.Trish_Doller">Trish Doller</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/729872198">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Firstly, I really liked this book. I will probably read it again and I will DEFINITELY use it in my classroom. That being said, there were some weak spots.<br><br>Pros: Excellent character development and story arc within a relatively short period of time. The main character experienced major changes from the beginning to the end of the story and showed maturity and growth. Actually, all of the major characters are surprisingly well developed. The imagery Doller uses is phenomenal. She uses lovely and interesting metaphors in her descriptions. It also includes such a beautiful and realistic representation of mental illness that is severely lacking in YA literature. I also love the big crazy Greek family!<br><br>Cons: There were some instances where authenticity was an issue for me. I felt like some of Callie's reactions were unrealistic. It seemed to me like she would be the kind of person to push back more during certain instances where in the book she passively went along with it, but at the same time, I understand why she didn't.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-33217040121971504832013-10-05T21:26:00.001-07:002013-10-05T21:26:16.266-07:00Apologies...Ok. So I lied. I didn't post every day this week. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...</span><div><br></div><div>For the Cumbercookie followers out there, here is a full fledged, highly organized, and well-thought-out apology delivered by the oh-so-lovely Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes:</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTv4ZCTwjP5obwWs2_C6OMcL-fNK0B7TNIH2RN91rc7LKSTT-VSd0IIf29gnqKkecRnzm1utEhcv0A4m-j2hUDga6QmczzYj-oummrbdev3ChS-dFAil-4izQWgx_mDp4JqFVErJ9Ebk/s640/blogger-image-1492746485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTv4ZCTwjP5obwWs2_C6OMcL-fNK0B7TNIH2RN91rc7LKSTT-VSd0IIf29gnqKkecRnzm1utEhcv0A4m-j2hUDga6QmczzYj-oummrbdev3ChS-dFAil-4izQWgx_mDp4JqFVErJ9Ebk/s640/blogger-image-1492746485.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I got lost in a book or two. And I think I might be getting sick and needing extra-ridiculous amounts of sleep.</span><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Also, I got up to 2,500 words in my novel! </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">YAY!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now only about 78,000 more to go! Jeez-a-loo</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Anyway, I'm sorry. Expect more and better posts this week!</div></div></div>Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-37808503475316277142013-09-29T20:15:00.001-07:002013-09-29T20:17:53.854-07:00Austin Teen Book Festival 2013 or #ATBF13This weekend consisted of so many books which will be reviewed sometime in the near future. I know. I feel like I always say, "I'll get to it," but I will. Promise.<br />
<br />
My bookish girl friends and I headed to Austin this weekend (all of us childless adults, mind you) for the Austin Teen Book Festival and it was AMAZING! We had absolutely the best time and got to see/meet some great authors who gave us advice on writing, publishing, etc.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I'd forgotten what that looked like.<br />
<br />
So many nerdy people in nerdy t-shirts! So much fangirling!<br />
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ALL THE BOOKS!<br />
<br />
I repeat,<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b> ALL. THE. BOOKS!
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
I will write a new post later this week complete with images and snippets of what happened.<br />
<br />
Expect an update each day!<br />
<br />Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-68008218865300273022013-08-16T19:48:00.000-07:002013-08-16T19:48:25.175-07:00Book Review: Bridget Jones's Diary<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227443.Bridget_Jones_s_Diary" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1)" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1292060045m/227443.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227443.Bridget_Jones_s_Diary">Bridget Jones's Diary</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3090.Helen_Fielding">Helen Fielding</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/158807065">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I really liked this, book, but having been a huge fan of the movie I was slightly disappointed in some areas, but impressed in others. I like Bridget, but at times her whining and incompetence were irritating. I like Daniel much more in this one. Mark, of course... Well, I liked the film version because of Colin Firth (I mean come ON!) And Bridget's mom was developed so much better in the book! It was an all around pleasing read, light-hearted and silly.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-84316731079842836252013-08-16T19:46:00.000-07:002013-08-16T19:46:37.261-07:00Book Review: The Lightning Thief<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187.The_Lightning_Thief" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361038385m/28187.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187.The_Lightning_Thief">The Lightning Thief</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15872.Rick_Riordan">Rick Riordan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/168611854">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is really a 4.5, but either way, it was an exciting read! I've always loved Greek mythology, and it is woven into every aspect if this story! I know I was late jumping on the bandwagon, but I'm so glad I did. I'm definitely a fan of the demigods and their adventures.<br /><br />Percy is a great and magical hero; a truly exciting coming-of-age story!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5223525-hacker-the-litwit">View all my reviews</a>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-26750306987130877882013-08-16T19:43:00.000-07:002013-08-16T19:43:30.174-07:00Book Review: Can You Keep A Secret?<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33724.Can_You_Keep_a_Secret_" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Can You Keep a Secret?" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1330464293m/33724.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33724.Can_You_Keep_a_Secret_">Can You Keep a Secret?</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6160.Sophie_Kinsella">Sophie Kinsella</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/621216305">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I love Sophie Kinsella! Her heroines are relatable without being overly incompetent and irritating. I wasn't the biggest fan of Jack, but Emma felt like my BFF. Loved it! Definitely going to re-read!
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-35589874569885307502013-07-09T22:02:00.000-07:002013-07-09T22:02:46.114-07:00Book Review: Starship Troopers<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17214.Starship_Troopers" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Starship Troopers" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1371782363m/17214.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17214.Starship_Troopers">Starship Troopers</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/205.Robert_A_Heinlein">Robert A. Heinlein</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/644732802">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I was recommended this book by a friend, and it is of the hard science fiction variety. While it was an easy read, it dealt with strong and controversial topics. If you are somebody who generally goes for this sort of thing, you'll probably find it highly enjoyable. Militaristic propaganda abounds, and the battle scenes (though few and far-between) are riveting. The main character adds just enough humanity to make this feel real.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-24494901842741615812013-07-09T21:54:00.000-07:002013-07-09T21:54:48.960-07:00Book Review: Board Stiff<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17132939-board-stiff" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Board Stiff (An Elliott Lisbon Mystery, #1)" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1355774043m/17132939.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17132939-board-stiff">Board Stiff</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6518749.Kendel_Lynn">Kendel Lynn</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/606033055">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I. Love. This. Book! <br /><br />With her debut novel, Kendel Lynn introduces us to the spunky, albeit unlucky board-director-turned-private-investigator Elli Lisbon, for whom Murphy's Law is a daily plague. She is smart, though, and her guts get her into and out of many a tangle. While mysteries are generally not my cup of tea, I am a huge fan of this novel and now the entire genre and I want to devour them all! The writing is intelligent, the wit quick, and the humor rampant. <br /><br />Read it.
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Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-16007705568591486012013-05-14T19:29:00.000-07:002013-05-14T19:31:41.055-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Books Dealing With Tough Subjects<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a> and this week's topic is books dealing with tough subjects including but not limited to suicide, depression, eating disorders, drug use, etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9soBTpQRIuyyC5pKOKLKG6T6xvn6K8GYhMrrN-4vbJwYFpohJA5Vr6xFM77k_3qRkP1edpU3eCSNaDEH5vfVNBsIX0iIS1eCY_9PV4UPPKouxPOBaSPvB9hRAqYWEzWf_mFd965g_m04/s1600/dawson-crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9soBTpQRIuyyC5pKOKLKG6T6xvn6K8GYhMrrN-4vbJwYFpohJA5Vr6xFM77k_3qRkP1edpU3eCSNaDEH5vfVNBsIX0iIS1eCY_9PV4UPPKouxPOBaSPvB9hRAqYWEzWf_mFd965g_m04/s320/dawson-crying.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In other words, books that make my face do this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perks-Being-Wallflower-Stephen-Chbosky/dp/0671027344" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> by Stephen Chbosky- </span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
remember reading this when I was in high school and I loved it. Chbosky
captures teen-hood perfectly. At least, teen-hood as I knew it. You've seen me
post about Perks before. I've read it more than any other book except the Harry
Potter series. It also has great music. If you never have, READ THIS BOOK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Topics include: depression, suicide, drug-use, homosexuality, homophobia</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Wallpaper-Charlotte-Perkins-Gilman/dp/091406116X" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <i>The Yellow Wallpaper</i> by Charlotte Perkins Gilman</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While
this is technically a short story, I’m including it. It is also, for all
intents and purposes, a public service announcement about women’s health
issues, but I digress. The protagonist deals with post-partum depression using methods
men came up with in the 1920s, including sitting in bed, not lifting a finger,
etc. Eventually, this drives her insane. While it is a humorous account,
Wallpaper really speaks to issues women dealt with at the time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: women’s
health, depression, mania<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Six-Plays-Lillian-Hellman/dp/0394741129" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <i>The Children’s Hour</i> by Lillian Hellman</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a play
about two women who run a school. A little girl gets in trouble at the school
and makes up a story about the women being lesbians and how all of their lives
are ruined after that. There is also a
great film starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: the power of
lies, truth, identity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speak-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/0312674392/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368582937&sr=1-1&keywords=speak+laurie" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <i>Speak </i>by Laurie Halse Anderson</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a book we
often teach in high school because the students care so greatly about the
character. It is about a girl who experiences something just before her first
year of high school and then sinks into a depression in which she loses all her
friends and disconnects with her family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: Depression, anxiety,
sexuality, bullying, rape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pact-Love-Story-P-S/dp/0061765236/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368582988&sr=1-1&keywords=pact+picoult" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. <i>The Pact</i> by Jodi Picoult</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contrary to the
poorly-made Lifetime movie, the novel that inspired it is highly unsettling and brilliant. Two students who are in
love decide to kill themselves. One survives, the other does not, and he gets
blamed for her death. The tricky thing? The parents are friends. The students
had been friends their whole lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics touched on are: suicide,
depression, rape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/0743273567/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368583048&sr=1-1&keywords=gatsby+fitzgerald" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. <i>The Great Gatsby</i> by F. Scott Fitzgerald</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
man loves a woman for five years and builds his whole life around the hope that
they’ll be together. She loves her cheating, old-money having husband,, but
decides to have a fling anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: adultery, murder, alcoholism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Elie-Wiesel/dp/0374500010/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368583141&sr=1-1&keywords=night+weisel" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. <i>Night </i>by Eli Wiesel</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
true to life account from Wiesel about concentration camps during WWII will
break your heart. There is so much truth and so much pain packed into a tiny
story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: war, death, racism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Two-Moons-Sharon-Creech/dp/0064405176/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368583269&sr=1-1&keywords=walk+two+moons" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. <i>Walk Two Moons</i> by Sharon Creech</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is about
middle-school age book about a girl going on a road trip with her family. She
tells the story of her friend Phoebe who, in turn, tells the reader about our
protagonist and all she’s been through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: death, divorce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375842209/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368583447&sr=1-1&keywords=the+book+thief+by+markus+zusak" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. <i>The Book Thief</i> by Markus Zusak</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is about a girl
who loses her family during WWII and gains another. So much death and pain and
growth. LOVE this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: war, death, racism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-True-Diary-Part-Time-Indian/dp/0316013692/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368583673&sr=1-2&keywords=sherman+alexie+absolutely+true+diary" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. <i>The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian </i>by Sherman Alexie</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Personally,
I don’t think we have enough books written by Native American authors about
their real life experiences. In this novel, the protagonist deals with wanting
a future in an environment that expects him to fail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Topics: bullying,
alcoholism, bulimia, gang violence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-11951977751044557272013-05-13T19:50:00.001-07:002013-05-13T19:50:51.298-07:00Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361572757m/3.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1077326.J_K_Rowling">J.K. Rowling</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/158806849">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the literary equivalent of a well-sewn quilt. It's worn in, familiar, comforting, and surprising all at the same time. It's so great going back to this series, back to the beginning, and getting to know them all again. It is quite different once you know how it ends. <br /><br />Harry and his comrades astound me, each and every time. J.K. Rowling created a world I love to escape to, over and over again.
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5223525-hacker-the-litwit">View all my reviews</a>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-28395449392273961942013-05-11T19:08:00.000-07:002013-05-11T19:12:19.146-07:00Book Review: City of Lost Souls<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1325708287m/8755776.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls">City of Lost Souls</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/150038.Cassandra_Clare">Cassandra Clare</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/267679509">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
*********SPOILERS!*********************<br />
<br />
This was an enjoyable read and a necessary step in the story, not unlike City of Ashes, but it is not a life-changer. For the most part, I think most of the tension is broken. I felt like a great deal of the plot was predictable, especially when Jace's mark is torn. I have to admit, I really like Clary. I've liked Clary since City of Bones. She's brave and impulsive and sometimes selfish, but she is human. Unlike characters who always do the right thing, she went against everything she knew to save Jace's life, much like many real life people do when choosing to take their loved one off life support. She knew that the person she loved was still in there and therefore couldn't let him die, but then she turns around and stabs him through the chest with the archangel's sword! It's so ridiculous that it works. I'm expecting the next one to be epic. <br />
<br />
Lastly, I would like to add:<br />
<br />
SIMON AND IZZY FOR THE WIN!
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5223525-hacker-the-litwit">View all my reviews</a>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-25124374885975712232013-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-08T08:37:57.061-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Literary Crushes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>This is a meme I got from <a href="http://www.danahuff.net/" target="_blank">Dana Huff</a> to list one's top ten...anything! This week, I'm kicking it off with my top ten literary crushes (and the fictional men against whom I measure all others). If you've not read these series, note, there will be *SPOILERS*. </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>In no particular order:</b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Syndey Carton from <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>- </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Self sacrifice and perpetual melancholy? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*le sigh*</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; color: red; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4A-60RVprLVzh9T_WhGVmDO1rTOdAjqBPwnUBgiA_Wq7i5d6z_nGWCE1KXB1fXAlL7wjPdMQ_zHoH_di1Vmp4Wj5ftBmmny6Adch5bAHlV7BsVS7nxvreELlubDSGRAWT38hxTVVnbg/s1600/Colonel+brandon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4A-60RVprLVzh9T_WhGVmDO1rTOdAjqBPwnUBgiA_Wq7i5d6z_nGWCE1KXB1fXAlL7wjPdMQ_zHoH_di1Vmp4Wj5ftBmmny6Adch5bAHlV7BsVS7nxvreELlubDSGRAWT38hxTVVnbg/s320/Colonel+brandon.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Colonel Brandon from</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><i><span style="color: black;">Sense & Sensibility</span></i><span style="color: black;">- </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: black;">Steadfast. </span>Constant. Strong. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Selfless and considerate. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Brave and hard-working. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And Alan Rickman plays him in the film. *swoon*</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrIxBMdfrDEx5fDhCvQ66cVddJKK_Y60ovGvgBcNFYgvQJv3vLNVdsVf2M1u1bckFwRV07beQZqlxS2_M2dsBUUVsWtYEvJGs-4EjfhV0fpeQSyM5LbKpE6rvD4qISMu8qeZTxahm3kY/s1600/ron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrIxBMdfrDEx5fDhCvQ66cVddJKK_Y60ovGvgBcNFYgvQJv3vLNVdsVf2M1u1bckFwRV07beQZqlxS2_M2dsBUUVsWtYEvJGs-4EjfhV0fpeQSyM5LbKpE6rvD4qISMu8qeZTxahm3kY/s400/ron.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Ron Weasley from Harry Potter- </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The funny, desperately loyal ginger in the Harry Potter trio has always had an appeal to me because he is just so RON. When I was a little girl, I adored Ron. I thought he was ridiculously lovable and down-to-earth. I didn't fall in love with Ron until Order of the Phoenix, however. Luna often set herself up to be picked on. Her naturally whimsical nature made it so. Ron only respected her, taking no opportunities to tease or mock, instead having her back in the battle at the Ministry</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpQ6ekDtRJ7nMpcYd39g6IaJTtAo5VNG8VJXEMUKfpSib0uj-o8m7ItZkmuXmUl9ahsz56IMbhvgYQ62Mj01pYkYSYFCwzfrPA9BsN7dM4jQQmC5gJ9pqJxCJuhKC8osztL5frLidldA/s1600/henry+detamble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpQ6ekDtRJ7nMpcYd39g6IaJTtAo5VNG8VJXEMUKfpSib0uj-o8m7ItZkmuXmUl9ahsz56IMbhvgYQ62Mj01pYkYSYFCwzfrPA9BsN7dM4jQQmC5gJ9pqJxCJuhKC8osztL5frLidldA/s1600/henry+detamble.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Henry DeTamble from</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><i><span style="color: black;">The Time Traveler's Wife</span></i></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Oh Henry. Bookish, sly, awkward Henry. His love for Clare and his daughter, his tender heart and quick wit, even within the confines of his disease set him apart as a highly flawed yet highly attractive character. I mostly love his relationship with Clare. Their love is all- encompassing and passionate, but they each still have their own lives. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHf4oDtB7n5vqMGPk4uFDGuUvdTaL_EoHQwFs7OmHkl2585koIvr6DagiQt6OTVHqBFfvjFtkLyw1FeJ1k4dIx6BChIyUxOVRJ8eSJzTsH7rLNH1hIspr4_MAmVg9tsy-t2iMr9YU014/s1600/henryVhid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHf4oDtB7n5vqMGPk4uFDGuUvdTaL_EoHQwFs7OmHkl2585koIvr6DagiQt6OTVHqBFfvjFtkLyw1FeJ1k4dIx6BChIyUxOVRJ8eSJzTsH7rLNH1hIspr4_MAmVg9tsy-t2iMr9YU014/s320/henryVhid.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Henry V from</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><i><span style="color: black;">Henry V</span></i><span style="color: black;">-</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;">He dominates France like a hero, give credit to God, then proceeds to awkwardly woo the princess of France to make her fall in love with him. He gives her a choice instead of forcing her. LOVE that!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpA6ol-gM7XVHuoHeVbc0ZJa-lw9-GmA5FZ66qYF3CFVOat2BcYXtbO9N7qh_OQZDZJt1cCGLFygPmazeSh15AMpxc0UvdXO24YOWdKIgA5mb0C6xTGhHz9ROfXtEuj61O-vYGGMMiYc/s1600/lupin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpA6ol-gM7XVHuoHeVbc0ZJa-lw9-GmA5FZ66qYF3CFVOat2BcYXtbO9N7qh_OQZDZJt1cCGLFygPmazeSh15AMpxc0UvdXO24YOWdKIgA5mb0C6xTGhHz9ROfXtEuj61O-vYGGMMiYc/s320/lupin.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Remus Lupin from</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><i><span style="color: black;">Harry Potter</span></i><span style="color: black;">-</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I've got to say, it was difficult keeping the list this short when I theoretically could have filled it up with the dashing men of the Potter-verse. Remus was my first crush, Ron was my first love. Remus was so steadfast and understanding, that adult who remembers what its like being a kid in a dangerous environment. He always said the right things and he was always honest. He was smart and kind and self-sacrificing. He also loved a butt-kicking woman, too.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Gideon and Sophie Art from <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=Gideon+Lightwood+sophie&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=gNMvnmQ-tdN_oM&tbnid=L76XhaNkK-kxtM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.katiesbookblog.com%2F2013%2F03%2Fclockwork-princess-teaser-blog-tour.html&ei=XfqHUYfwEI2s8ASil4DQCg&psig=AFQjCNE8cVP6wTQlsQClS1HpJ36TpHGhIg&ust=1367952319944611" target="_blank">Katie's Book Blog</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gideon Lightwood from <i>The Infernal Devices</i>-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> While he is definitely not the starring male lead of the trilogy, he is certainly the most constant. I loved him from the start. Even during the first training session, he sees Sophie. He truly sees her, when nobody else saw her as much other than a good friend or maid. He saw her bravery, her courage, and her hope. He has a strong belief in justice at all costs which I love, and he has an unending hope in what is right. Plus, he's one heck of a big brother to irritating little Gabriel. And let us not forget the incident with the scones... lol :</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BTNiANmF9Cyfx4UNgxuUJqWjCMAjlFZfUCmiTvmI5YW06Yr1HX5dozkkE9Bu-t3h0xI852PtSDkV6iVC6F5Foq-cGaqTg32vhhsEPYoCrzgJfQi610064NPVrQuy6k9OSgcNHqxdqmk/s1600/Finnick_CF_portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BTNiANmF9Cyfx4UNgxuUJqWjCMAjlFZfUCmiTvmI5YW06Yr1HX5dozkkE9Bu-t3h0xI852PtSDkV6iVC6F5Foq-cGaqTg32vhhsEPYoCrzgJfQi610064NPVrQuy6k9OSgcNHqxdqmk/s400/Finnick_CF_portrait.jpg" width="267" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finnick Odair- <i>Catching Fire </i>& <i>Mockingjay-</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span>He's so...sexy. There really is no other word for it. Instead of playing the role of victim, Finnick, calm, confident, brave, deliciously good-looking Finnick, suffered the struggles of surviving the games only to fall in love with with fellow survivor, the emotionally fragile Anne. Anne, who Finnick describes as having "snuck up" on him when he was thinking of other things and who carried on bravely after his death, suffered severe emotional trauma during the games. Finnick believes in Katniss. He survives Snow's horrendous pimping. He is willing to sacrifice himself for Mags or Peeta or Katniss. He even let Katniss go first when they invade the Capitol, and then loses his life. Poor, sweet, brave Finnick..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And last, but not least: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guthrie from <i>Bloomability-</i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="color: black;"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">He introduces Dinnie to all sorts of fun and adventure when she's thrust into her new and diverse environment at a boarding school in Switzerland. I read this when I was in the fifth grade and I thought he was absolutely precious and so much fun. </span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">He was a great contrast to Dinnie's passivity. Alas, no photos for him :(</span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So who are some of YOUR great literary infatuations, </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">past and present?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br />Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-8166167096240198282013-05-03T14:36:00.003-07:002013-05-05T10:02:46.878-07:00Liebster Award<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Earlier today, my friend </span><a href="http://gabibooksit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Gabi</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> nominated me for the coveted Liebster Award! Yay!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">First of all, I would like to thank the Academy, my mom, all the little people who got me here today, my as-yet-un-hired-personal-assistant,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Oh wait. Wrong speech. Saving that one for another time... </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This is a Liebster. The rules are different:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Rules for a Liebster Award:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In order to accept this super awesome award, there are Things That Must Be Done.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">1. Thank the person that nominated you. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-size: x-large;">THANK YOU, GABI!!!!!!</span></strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">2. Display the Liebster Heart on your blog. </span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">3. Nominate 3 to 5 more different bloggers </span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">4. Post 11 things about yourself.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">5. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">6. Answer the 11 questions you've been asked in your nomination.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Here are my 11 Questions:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">1) If you could choose any book universe to live in, what would it be? </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;">Um, trick question? Harry freakin' Potter. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">2) If you could guest star in any TV show, which one would you choose? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Castle. </span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">3) What do you keep in the trunk of your car? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Currently? Drill team uniforms from the dry cleaner, jumper cables, about 5,000 pairs of shoes, a Yoda mask, and a first aid kit. Only the essentials :)</span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">4) What is your favorite quote? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">"It is our choices that determine what we truly are...far more than our abilities."- Albus Dumbledore in J.K. Rowling's <em>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</em></span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">5) Would you ever hug a complete stranger?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Would and have. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">6) If you could visit a different decade or era, when would you go? Why then? Would you stay?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The 1940s (although the 20s are a close second). I would go there because I think that is when America was at its best. They had swing dancing, for goodness' sakes! I would totally rock those polka dots and red lipstick, too. Oh, and the men in uniform...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I'm not sure if I would stay or not. I love where I am in time, knowing what I know and having knowledge easily at my fingertips. However, the romantic in me would probably overpower the practical side and I would stay. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">7) What's your favorite OTP and from which fandom?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Shamy from <em>The Big Bang Theory</em> :-)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">8) If you were stranded on a desert island, what three books and what three people would you want with you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Books: The Bible, Harry Potter and the Prizoner of</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Azkaban, <span id="btAsinTitle">SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">People: Zachary Levi, Ryan Gosling, and Gerard Butler</span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">9) How would you like to be remembered? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">As somebody who loved people, and dedicated her life to making others' better.</span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">10) What's the best and/or worst pick up line you've ever heard? (Did it work?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Best: "Do you have a whip?"-It didn't work, but it should've.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Worst: "Miss, would you marry me? Imma be 18 in a few months..." -Didn't work, by the way.</span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">11) What would your last words be before departing this world?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I love you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">11 Things About me:</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I listen to *NSync on a daily basis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Foursquare I'm currently the mayor of my local Wal-Mart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am addicted to sitcoms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to visit Ireland more than any other place on Earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was a kid, I had a crush on Jack Frost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I speak quite freely (which sometimes gets me in trouble). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't like chocolate. I know, I break girl-code.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love to go shooting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I LOVE my job. Teaching is my greatest passion!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My dogs' names are Spanky (giant German Shepherd mix) and Penny (tiny Pomeranian). Spanky is a baby and is terrified of Penny.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And NOW: 11 Questions for My Nominees</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What is the first book you ever fell in love with?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Do you prefer Diamonds or Pearls?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">If you could travel anywhere to live, where would it be and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What is your fantasy (as in, it doesn't exist in this world) career?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What scares you? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">How many books do you own? *Estimates accepted*</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Who is your favorite Greek God/Goddess?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">How often do you hang out outside?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">With whom do you feel safest?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Who is your guilty pleasure musician/band?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Describe your feelings about public education.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the nominees are:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People I've never met, but whose writing brings me joy:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://littlemissdorkette.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Miss Dorkette</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who writes about all things nerdy/lovely</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brigette Laurys over at </span><a href="http://myworldmyquotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My World, My Quotes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dana Huff (my blogging/educator idol) at </span><a href="http://www.danahuff.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much Madness is Divinest Sense</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As I tell my students...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">proceed. </span></span></div>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786126873546251671.post-87737466346506555442013-05-02T19:39:00.001-07:002013-05-02T19:39:14.344-07:00Book Review: Divergent<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Divergent (Divergent, #1)" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328559506m/13335037.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent">Divergent</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4039811.Veronica_Roth">Veronica Roth</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/604146124">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Oh my. <br /><br />This novel is like quicksand. Once you start to sink into it, you're done! The story was fast-paced and oddly realistic. I love the flawed characters. The kids still act like real teenagers, and Tris is truly brave. And she knows it! <br /><br />This Dystopian is a great reflection on society and values, but it is also a terrifying world to imagine living in. One of my favorite books. Ever.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5223525-heather">View all my reviews</a>
Hacker the Litwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469460462342489786noreply@blogger.com0