Follow Friday #17

This Weeks Follow Friday Question:Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more? I read one at a time. I have no idea how the people who do go back a forth between a couple different books can, because i don't think i would be able to keep the stories straight. I would mixing up what events happened in what book and would end up confusing myself so much that i would probably just give up and restart one and only stick with one haha. I think it is very commendable if you can go back and forth and more power to you, but it is just not my thing. 
For the list to add your name and follow others go to Parajunkee's Follow Friday post =]

Claire Reads 250 Follower Giveaway!!

If you are in the mood to enter an awesome giveaway then you should definitely check out Claire Reads giveaway for reaching 250 followers. Every 50 followers she gains she adds another winner so definitely spread the word!!

There are four great prize packs up for grabs right now and tons of ways to enter. Already there has been one update with an extra winner so 3 people are eligible to win, but i think we can get that number higher so head on over and enter =D

ENTER HERE

BBReview: "The Hunger Games 3: Mockingjay" By Suzanne Collins

From Goodreads.com

Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian
Publishing Date: August 24th, 2010
Page Count: 390
Source: Bought from SAM's Club
Format: Hardcover

Description from Goodreads.com:
*WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THE DESCRIPTION. DO NOT READ IT UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY READ BOOK 2*
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebel's Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

Review:
Oh, you have no idea how depressed i am that this series is over. It was such an amazing pleasure to read it. I will be recommending this series forever if anyone ever asks me what book they should read next. So i just want to start off with a thank you to Suzanne Collins for writing such an amazing series. She has ultimately effected my life and created a closer bond with me and a few of my sorority sisters. She is now one of my literary heroes, right next to Melissa De La Cruz. Now, LET THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!

It ultimately took me about 6-8 hours to read Mockingjay and was split up into two days. I lost a lot of sleep over reading this book (ha ha), but it was the best excuse not to sleep possible. The beginning was a little slow at first. Not the typical slow, where you have to get through the first 50 pages before you start liking it, but just not the typical writing style. Trust me, i had to FORCE myself to stop reading once i got to chapter 5, only because i had a 9:55 am history class to get sleep for. It was addicting from page one, but for reasons i will let you read and figure out on your own the writing style was almost like a reading a telegram. The sentences are very short, simple sentences. I mean if you read the first paragraph in the description you will get the idea, BUT only do it if you've read the second book. It drove me nuts for the first few pages, but eventually got over it and it eventually stopped.

From the beginning it's pretty fast paced with a lot of information, and very addicting like all the rest. A lot of things happen that broke my heart, questioned if i should even keep reading, and then broke my heart again. Needless to say there was some crying and doubt lol. In a way i feel like finishing the series was like saying goodbye to an old friend. You know that you will always remember them, but the ride is over. Very depressing, i know, but thats how i feel right now. I honestly wasn't as pleased as i thought i would be when i finished Mockingjay. I thought that it would end on a much happier note so that the readers could have an easier time grieving the end, but it almost just kind of faded in a luke warm happy. Trust me it could have gotten a lot worse, and it wasn't a bad ending, but i guess i just expected more positive things, but after all it IS Panem. After all is said and done i am still in love and obsessed with this series and i cannot wait to see all the movies. If i could go back in time i would read them and cry all over again.

Overall:
I am very sad to see the end of this series, but it has definitely been an amazing ride. Suzanne Collins is an amazing author who deserves to win awards over this series and i cannot wait for the movies, but i know she will definitely see some awards there. Maybe not personal awards, but the actors will definitely win something because of her. I was obsessed with Mockingjay from page one and had to force myself to put it down. The ending was positive, but i thought it was going to be a little more frilly and happy go-lucky instead of being a worse than reality like it was. I think Collins wanted to keep it as realistic as possible.

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5

Question of the Moment 61

When you finish a series how do you feel? Sad, depressed, happy, mad, enraged, relieved, excited, accomplished?

When i finish a series i feel depressed at first, because its over. Obviously i loved the series i wouldn't have read all of the books, so its sad to know that that source of happiness is now gone and you need to find another one. After i come to terms with it being over i feel happy, as long as i liked the ending, because it was a good series and it ended in a good way. I also feel a sense of euphoria, because i have came to a full circle with this series that has made me happy. I just finished a series i love so im a little poetic right now. It'll pass lol

So how do you feel? Let me know in the comments below =]

BBReview: "Death 2: Death Speaks" By Tamara Rose Blodgett

Image sent to me by author

Genre: Young Adult -Paranormal/Science Fiction
Publishing Date: August 30th, 2011
Page Count: 348
Source: Sent to me by the author
Format: E-Book

Description From Goodreads.com:
Caleb's in high school now and thinks the chaos of last year is behind him. Unfortunately, a serial killer is on the loose and children are his victims. Caleb agrees to help the police apprehend the murderer...until the killer takes notice of Caleb and his paranormal friends.

Carson and Brett remain the bullies they always were and their posse continues to grow. How long can the two groups stay out of each others' way before there's a firestorm of retribution...

The Government Graysheets continue to keep tabs on Caleb's every move while Jade's family threatens their relationship. Can they still be together even when events threaten to tear them apart?

Review:
I say it every time i review one of Tamara's novels, but it still reigns true. I love this book and Tamara is a fantastic writer! I think at this point you guys need to just stalk her writing life, and buy and red every book she produces. That is just my opinion, though.

Death Speaks, the sequel to the first novel in the death series Death Whispers, was a fantastic second book. It didn't dwell too much on the past. Of course the BIG issue that happened in the first novel was still hovering, but it wasn't all that was going on. A lot of series take the problem from the first novel and keep dragging it on, making up a thousand excuses of why that problem can't be resolved just yet, but Death Speaks brought a whole new conflict into the mix. A conflict, that i thought was extremely interesting and kept me entertained the entire time.

Of course like always i loved all the characters, and Jonesy is still by far my favorite. I love the crush forming between him and Sophie too. I feel like there was a lot more violence this time, especially targeted towards the female characters, so it was definitely an angst-ier book and definitely got the reader's blood pumping.

Overall:
I loved it, just like i love all of Tamara's novels. The main plot in this novel was awesome and i loved reading every detail about it. I wish i could have been there with Tiff and Caleb to actually see everything. I still love the characters and think that Tamara kept them all true to nature, but Jonesy is still my favorite of them all. Go you Tamara! And everyone go pick up this novel, or any others by her =D

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5

Question of the Moment 60

If you were able to help the police catch a serial killer, due to paranormal abilities or just normal everyday abilities, but you could only do it by seeing the bodies and going to the crime scenes would you be able to do it? Would you be able to see the dead bodies of kids and hold everything together to catch their killer?

I think i would. I have a weird facination with dead people, like i would love to be able to talk to ghosts and stuff, and if i could help catch their killer that would be awesome. I think i would definitely be scared and need to  have a buddy at all times, but still. It would be hard to see dead kids, but i think i could hold myself together long enough since its for the greater good. I know i probably wouldn't be able to get their images out of my head, but i think once i caught the killer it would be easier to manage.

So could you do it? Let me know in the comments below =]

Book Gifts for a Good Cause!!

Do you know someone who loves reading, or are a book lover yourself? Then you need to check out GoneReading.com. This site sells book gifts, but the best part is that they donate 100% of after-tax profits to fund libraries & reading-related charities. Once i heard about that i was SOLD on this site. My only problem is i can't decide what i want to buy, because there are SO many great items. 

A few of the many awesome items that you can buy are book shirts, book marks, book ends, book plates, book mugs, and so much more. Also if you spend $25 or more you get FREE standard shipping, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee. I can't think of anything that could make site any better, and i can't think of any reason not to go check it out and purchase something to help out an amazing cause. 

Go check out this site! 

For more information on their philanthropy click here.

I beg you readers and followers, GO CHECK THEM OUT!

BBReview: "The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire" By Suzanne Collins

From Goodreads.com

Genre: Young Adult -Dystopian
Publishing Date: September 1st, 2009
Page Count: 391
Source: Bought from Ukazoo bookstore
Format: Hardcover

Description from Goodreads.com:
*WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THE DESCRIPTION. DO NO READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ BOOK ONE*
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow district 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

Review:
Suzanne Collins has done it again. She has stole my heart away with this series. I am 100% positive that this series is my new love. I am completely obsessed with it and i cannot wait to go see the movie this month.

Usually the second novel of a series is either just as good as the first or you love it a little less than the first one, but Catching Fire only made the series better. It seems that with each book the story just gets better and better and becomes more and more real. I honestly cannot wait to read the third novel, because i know it will just be the icing on the cake and go even more above and beyond my expectations. While reading Catching Fire i also became more in love with Katniss's character. She will always be my favorite character, but i feel like i know her even better and surprisingly i don't question her judgement. I usually always find some kind of character flaw in my favorite character, but for the most part i agree with everything that she does and always root for her. A lot of people have taken "Team --" sides when it comes to her love life, but the only team that i can choose is "Team Katniss". Whatever and whomever she decides for her love life i will back her up. I will admit, though, that i am more "Team Peeta".

The story plot was just as fantastic as the first one and couldn't put it down. Every time i told myself that i would only read for a little bit i ended up reading for hours. The imagination and thought and love that went into Catching Fire shines through the pages and really makes you cherish not only the characters, but the novel itself.

Overall:
I am falling more and more in love Katniss's character and this series the more i read. I only wanted to stop reading one time, which was when the Quarter Quell card was read (for obvious reasons when you read this novel). I was just so crush that that event was going to take place and thought there was going to be no hope for my two favorite characters, but i stuck through it and just kept going and i couldn't have made a better decision. This series is unbelievably amazing and i will never get sick of it. If you have only read the first novel or haven't started the series yet at all i URGE you to get your copies of this series, because it will blow your mind away. I highly recommend this to all my readers no matter what kind of Young Adult sub-genre you usually go for.

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5

Question of the Moment 59

If there was a rebellion going on against your government, and you also believed that the government was wrong, would you stand up and rebel too? And if you ever in the past, or currently, are rebelling let me know what your story is.

I believe that i would. I think that if the government was going something wrong and i didn't agree with it that i would stand up and fight for my rights. I mean just like with STOP SOPA i thought it was wrong, wrote my state representative, and told all my friends and put it on my blog. Sure i wasn't in the streets picketing or causing a violent rebellion, but it was still something that made a difference. Now i do not believe in violent protests, but i would definitely stand up for my rights and rebel if i needed to.

So what would you do? Let me know in the comments below =]

BBReview: "Blood Calling" By Joshua Grover-David Patterson

From Goodreads.com

Genre: Young Adult -Paranormal
Publishing Date: September 9th, 2011
Page Count: 270
Source: Sent to me by the author
Format: E-Book

Description from Goodreads.com:
When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, "THEY'RE REAL. FIGHT THEM."

Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.

Review:
Blood Calling isn't your typical YA vampire novel. It's focus is not on romance, which for me was a first. It is actually kind of refreshing to read a novel with little romance, because then you just focus on the actual story. There is a small hint of romance, but they never make it the focus. Blood Calling is also a pretty short read. Not so much in the length of the novel, but because it is so interesting and makes you WANT to keep reading you end up finishing it pretty fast. I finished it in a day.

I couldn't really find  anything about this novel that is "super amazing" or "so different from other books", but it is still a really good and has a new spin on what the purpose of vampires are. Blood Calling is just a good quality vampire novel. I am 99% sure that it will either get better through the series, or that each book will be just as good as the first, but i am 100% sure that i will continue reading the other installments to come.

Overall:
I really liked Blood Calling. It didn't focus on the romance aspect of the novel, like most do, and instead just let you relax and enjoy the story. I will admit that, to me, there wasn't really a "WOW!" factor, but it was still really good. It is an easy read and if you like it you read it really fast. I read it in a day and was wanting to read the second one immediately. I suggest anyone into vampires read this.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5

Question of the Moment 58

How do you feel about YA novels that have little or no romance in them? Have you ever read a novel like that? Which is your preference, a little or a lot? And if you haven't ever read one then would you ever WANT to read one with little or no romance?

The review that will be posted tomorrow has little romance in it, which brings up this question. I don't think i have ever read a YA novel with only a small dose of romance or none at all so this was a different reading experience for me. I didn't hate it, though. It was almost a little refreshing. When that one little, tiny, drop of romance was thrown in i definitely got excited, but when nothing else happened i wasn't hurt by it. I just figure it will happen in the novels to follow. I think it definitely is a different experience to read something where the focus isn't on relationship and just on the story. It makes you really pay attention to what the story is truly meant to be about. Different, very different, and interesting.

So what is you experience with little to non-existent romance? Let me know in the comments below =]

BBReview: "The Hunger Games 1: The Hunger Games" By Suzanne Collins

From Goodreads.com

Genre: Young Adult -Dystopian
Publishing Date: October 1st, 2008
Page Count: 374
Source: Bought from Books-A-Million
Format: Paperback

Description From Goodreads.com:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and young sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review:
WOW! That pretty much sums up my feelings on this novel. This is one of the best novels i have ever read and i am utterly and completely in love and obsessed with this series. I always saw all the other book reviewers reviewing it and loving it, but i never gave it a try. I always just put it on my "maybe ill read one day" list, but then once word got out that there was going to be a movie and people were going NUTS over it everywhere i went, i knew i had to read this, and it was the best decision i have ever made.

The Hunger Games is powerful and emotional. You bond so much with Katniss and become one with her character. You can feel everything she is going through and somehow can relate to everything she's been through, even if you haven't been through any of it, you can just relate it "thats exactly how i would feel in that situation". There are times when you will laugh, get mad, cry, and cheer for joy. It's an emotional roller coaster. The characters are all well thought out too. They each have their own unique personalities and you easily love them or hate them. The twist and turns of the events that take place really hit home, and the things that the Capitol and the Game makers do is truly awful and i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Overall:
I love, love, LOVE The Hunger Games. It is unlike all the other novels that i have ever read and loved. This series is definitely my new addiction. I think i love it more than Twilight, but don't tell anyone that haha. The Hunger Games is chalked full of emotion and beautiful story line, the events that take place are so imaginative and perfect for the situation. I couldn't find a single thing wrong with this novel and i wouldn't add or change a single thing. Beautifully done, Suzanne Collins. I cannot wait to finish this series and see the movie.

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5

Question of the Moment 57

If you were sent to a place where you have to fight to death for your survival (war, hunger games, etc.,), do you think you would have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)? If you did develop PTSD do you think you would be the type of person who would just hold it in and not talk about it, or would you be the type of person who HAS to talk about it in order to feel some sort of relief? If you don't think you would develop PTSD why is that?

I personally think i would develop PTSD, because i think killing people no matter what the circumstances are is wrong. I know sometimes it is necessary and you have to do it (again war, hunger games, etc.,) but you still feel it is morally wrong when you do it. You just ended a life. So i think even though i know it was something that i HAD to do i would still feel bad and develop PTSD. I think i would also be the type of person who has to talk about it with someone, because that is just how i deal with stressful situations. I have to talk about it or i will bottle it up and explode later.

So how would you deal? Let me know in the comments below =]

IMM #17 : The Hunger Games Edition

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren that showcases what you have bought, received, won, and borrowed through out the week

Bought:

• "Catching Fire" By Suzanne Collins (From Ukazoo) $17.99
• "Mockingjay" By Suzanne Collins (From Sams Club) $11.95
• "The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion" (From Sams Club) $12.95

Random Book Items:

• Peeta and Katniss "The Hunger Games" Bookmark (From Hottopic) $4.95

Thanks for checking out what i got. Now what did you get?


*Any book links go to goodreads.com. This is not where they were purchased, but this is where you can find more information out about the books and where to purchase them. All items were purchased by me, personally, or by friends and family members. I am in no way affiliated to The Hunger Games series or Suzanne Collins.*

BBReview: "Fins 2: Fins Are Forever" By Tera Lynn Childs

From Goodreads.com

Genre: Young Adult -Fantasy
Publishing Date: June 28th, 2011
Page Count: 262
Source: Borrowed from my local library
Format: Hardcover

Description From Goodreads.com:
On Lily Sanderson's eighteenth birthday she'll become just a girl--still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she's almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily's father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form, when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily's former crush, Brody?

The sea foam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily's past shows up--Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There's a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the Kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Review:
Overall i enjoyed the second book in the fins series, Fins Are Forever, but i definitely had mixed feelings while reading it. I loved everything with her and Quince, but i hated the parts with Tellin. I don't enjoy love triangles so Tellin really really drove me insane. Well, really Lily drove me insane, because she is the one with the mixed feelings, but you know what i mean. Lily really bothered me a lot during Fins Are Forever. I really liked her in Forgive My Fins, but this one she was just too scatter-brained. For example i am a person who is big on scholastic things, and when she kept missing her appointment with the woman from the college she wants to go to it drove me insane. I wanted to jump in the book and shake her.
I did like the story line a lot though and just decided to deal with Lily's craziness so i could still enjoy the story.
Also i didn't care for the ending. I think it had something to do with me just finishing the first book in The Hunger Games so im used to bad things happening. But when the ending game in this book i was just a little distraught that it ended on such a positive, everything got fixed ending. I really think it was because of The Hunger Games so i can't truly trust my opinion about it.

Overall:
I really did like the book. I loved the story line and i loved all the parts with Quince. There were a few things i didn't like about Fins Are Forever (the ending, Lily's scatter brain, and Tellin) which is the only reason im giving it three stars. I think if you are in a happy go lucky mood this novel will be great, but if you are looking for something with a little more bite to it, this isn't going to do it for you. I will continue with this series, though, because i do really enjoy it and i really like Tera Lynn Childs writing style.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ 3/5

Question of the Moment 56

If you were a person of royal descent and a person that you really didn't like was sent to you for their punishment would you be able to be unbiased, make sure they did what their punishment was and send them back?

I think it would be hard at first, because when someone you dont like is in trouble or being punished you feel a little joy in the situation, but then after a bit you start to feel bad for them and want to help. So i think i would take joy in the fact that they are being punished and being sent to me, a person who obviously doesn't like you, to make sure it is followed through and then i would remember that this is my responsibility and i have to be unbiased and make sure the job is done.

Would you be able to be unbiased? Let me know in the comments below =]