Saturday, April 30, 2011

Avid Rant : Premature Rating Syndrom

P.R.S
Premature Rating Syndrome

You all are probably wondering what the heck I am talking about, but while I was reading Playing Hurt this weekend (review will be out next week) I realized I had been struck by PRS!

PRS should not be taken lightly, it can cause unjust prejudice and hard to overcome judgments. A unbeknownst to myself I have been struggling with it for a while now without even knowing.

Premature Rating Syndrome is a disease that affects the mind of a blogger causing him or her to rate (in their heads) a book before they have even finished reading it. I find this happens to me alot. Maybe its because I know myself so well, or maybe because the book is predictable and I think I know where its heading, but usually by the middle I know whether the book is 1,2,3,4,or 5 stars before I sit and write my review.

Now, do I change my mind while reading? Yes, sometimes I do, but for the most part I stick with my ratings. And then I had another realization (there was alot of realizing this weekend) I am not rating the book based on how good it is, I am rating my experience reading it. Yes I do have my other ratings based on plot, writing style, characters....and those are more of a testament to how I feel about the book, but my overall rating is how I felt while reading the book. So maybe having PRS isn't such a bad thing. I know what I like and what I don't like.

So fellow bloggers I come to you seeking advice: Do you have PRS? What do you do to combat it? Maybe the only way to fight it is to take out the rating system. I think for now I shall keep it though, as long as I try to maintain an open mind while reading =)

Friday, April 29, 2011

TGIF ♥ 5


Hello guys! Yani is on some well-deserved vacations, hope she's enjoying them :D! so today's TGIF will be answered by me :)


TGIF, hosted by GReads


This Friday's Question: 

Standalone vs. Series: what's your stance?
 


well, in YA paranormal fiction is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find standalone books which, in YA realistic fiction is usually the only thing you'll find. I really like it when in one books you get everything, beginning, middle and ending. I don't like series because sometimes, from the moment I finish book one to the moment book two comes out, I usually already forgot the details of the series and lost that need of the books. Still like them, but I don't have that hunger for them anymore. If the whole series is finished then I'm in. Also, I don't like in series when you can just tell that the authors are making things  up to keep it going. For example: The House Of Night Series, I'm a HUGE fan of the series, but I really do think the authors went a little overboard with this where the story is going now :/

I'm more of a fan of Standalone.

But as always, it is hard to let go of characters or the story, so Series really are cool.

I don't know... I think I'm 60% Standalone and 40% Series ^^

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.


Follow Friday is asking:  

Q. Keeping with the dystopian and apocalypse theme that seems to be running rampant on parajunkee.com, I have one very hard question for you: If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?

Easy :D!

1.- Take Me There by Carolee Dean

2.- Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

3.- Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

4.- The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

5.- Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

6.- When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

7.- Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

8.- The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

9.- Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

10.- Rules Of Attraction by Simone Elkeles


Weird choice of books I know.... I was thinking about adding Thirteen Reasons Why but I just HATE that book. Seriously, I was so traumatized I swore I would never read a book that was similar, but I've read it 7 times by now so.......


Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books.
Book Blogger Hop


Our Hop Question:

Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer release are you are most looking forward to?



Putting Makeup On Dead People!!! by Jen Violi. NOOO DOUBT! :DD

 I have an ARC right now so I'm currently reading it :D! comes out May 24!!







This was all for Blessed Fridays, thanks for following ;)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday # 1 3

WOW is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.
From Goodreads:


Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.
At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

Why Yani is Waiting on It: The title is just so real. So many girls use that excuse to stay with the wrong guy. I can tell its going to be a gripping and emotional book and one I just can't wait to read.

Why Jude is Waiting on It: I really can't wait for this one to come out. I haven't encountered that many books that touch this subject, and I really want to see what this book has to offer, it seems intense and beautiful :)).


Can't wait for this book coming out: May 8, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011

Book Review : A Need So Beautiful

Book: A Need So Beautiful
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Date Published: June 21, 2011
Pages: 252
Source: ARC Tour
Date Read: April 22, 2011

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences.

Summary Taken from Goodreads
Yani's Review:
I am so so so so so happy I signed up for this book tour. I read the description and it seemed promising, but when I got this instead of Wolfsbane in the mail I was dissappointed. That didn't last long! In the midst of studying for finals I had the next morning, I took a break and picked up this book. I told myself one chapter and I'll go back to studying. One chapter became another and another and another until I was done with the book at 2AM. Needless to say the final didn't go that well, but the book was that good! I could not put it down.

This is not your typical angel story. First off the protagonist, our hero, Charlotte doesn't even know who are what she is. She has a best friend, a boyfriend she loves, and an adopted family that love her and she's supposed to give this up to save some strangers?! That's what I loved about her... for being an Angel, she sure was no angel.But despite her struggle to keep from being forgotten, the Need (this uncontrollable urge to help others) was quickly taking over her life.


The story develops and you -slowly - learn more about what Charlotte is and her Need. Every time Charlotte comes close to learning more about herself the Need kicks in. Suzanne knows how to tease the reader, leaving us with the Need to learn what lies ahead for Charlotte and will she truly be forgotten by those she loves most?

My favorite part of the story was Charlotte's boyfriend Harlin. Scruffy face CHECK motorcycle CHECK family issues CHECK... all the makings of a sweet bad boy you can't help but love and Charlotte did, at first sight. For once the love at first sight thing didn't bother me, the whole book is based on desires and urges you can't control and those you just want. Charlotte can't help but want Harlin and neither can I.

This story is tragic and haunting, and just so beautiful. With an interesting premise, well developed characters, and the primordial conflict of good vs evil, A Need So Beautiful can do now wrong. I seriously NEED to know what happens next ???
{I hope you liked all my puns, it was just too easy =P}

Ratings:
Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:
None! It's not like anything I have read before!!

Memorable Quotes:
There is nothing worse then being forgotten. Like I never existed.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

In My Mailbox # 1 5

In My Mailbox {aka IMMB} is hosted by The Story Siren.

Yani

That is a beautiful still photo =) Please forgive my lack of editing skills and ignorance in camera position. Bloopers were kept for your viewing enjoyment. This is a learning process and I promise the next IMMB vlog will be better!

Won:


Bought:

For Review:
Library:

I did the tape really early in the week so I wasn't able to include the last two.


Jude
For Review:
Bought:

Blogs Mentioned:

Friday, April 22, 2011

TGIF # 4


TGIF is a feature over GReads to re-cap the week's posts  & to propose a question for all the followers.
 
This Friday's Question:
Explicit Material: how do you feel about explicit language and/or sexual content in YA books?


I really don't mind sexual content or foul language. And it is not because I am an older reader of YA. It never really bothered me. even when I was 13/14 and reading young adult fiction. I think that as along as its part of the character or storyline, then it has its place. In fact some of these books, with the more mature content, feel more realistic and genuine to me.

Now if I was a mom would I want my 12 year old reading some of these YAs, no probably not. I really think that should be something the reading world considers when they label a work YA. What is YA? well according to publishers its from 13-17... really?? I believe that there are four different levels of reading: children, teen, young adult, and adult. Isn't an adult someone over the age of 18? So wouldn't someone who is a YOUNG adult be over 18. I mean the adult years has a big range so I can't tell you where it should end, but I definitely think it should begin there. But I am going into a different topic on how we classify books....

I have no problems with explicit language and/or sexual content in YA books =)

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Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.

Q. What is on your current playlist right now?

I have been listening to my Ultra music festival playlist on repeat since I went to the event about a month ago. For those of you that don't know what Ultra is, it is a music festival with over 100,000 attendees who listen to djs spin. I am not a fan of just techno beats, but I do like the dance styles of some of the djs there and I had a blast with my friends.

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Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books.
If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?

Yes definitely! If I really enjoy the author I might even pick up another of their books right away. Either way that author is now on my lists that I check for ever so often and see if they have a new book.
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      Elizabeth Scott Book Week

      Wednesday, April 20, 2011

      May = Contemp YA Month on TSLoaAR



      In light of the Elizabeth Scott week we are co-hosting and the Sarah Dessen week we will be participating in, we decided to make the month of May a contemporary YA month!

      We will try to revolve all our reviews, posts, memes around this theme. Both Scott and Dessen are some of our favorite authors, but there are others too.

      Such as:
      • Simone Elkeles, 
      • Tina Ferraro, 
      • Courtney Summers, 
      • Lauren Barnholdt, 
      • Jenny Han, 
      • Hailey Abbott, 
      • Kieran Scott/Kate Brian, 
      • Susanne Colasanti, 
      • Janette Rallison, 
      • Niki Burnham, 
      • Jenny O'Connell, 
      • Tamara Summers, 
      • Catherine Clark, 
      • Stephanie Davis, 
      • Jennifer Laurens, 
      • Sara Zarr, 
      • Alyson Noel, 
      • Jennifer Echols, 
      • and Meg Cabot to name a few of our favorites. 
      Some are more emotional and gritty, and others light and easy, but all of them are about the life of your every day girl.

      We wish we could review every single one of these authors, but there are not enough days in the month. We will be posting about some of these authors and their book reviews throughout the month. The goal is to have a review posted each non-meme day. That's 18 reviews! So be on the lookout for some amazing reviews, discussions, a possible interview, and a giveaway (or two) !

      Waiting on Wednesday # 1 2



      WOW is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.
      From Goodreads:

      Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?
      Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.
      Why Yani is Waiting on It: I have read all her Rules if Attraction and Leaving Paradise books. I forgot this one was coming out until I saw a video of her in RT Teen Day and got excited all over again!!

      Can't wait for this book coming out: August 16, 2011

      Tuesday, April 19, 2011

      Announcing: Elizabeth Scott Book Week!

      Although I started reading YA because of paranormal romance books (aka Twilight), I really fell in love with YA contemporary fiction. These authors - like Sarah Dessen, Simone Elkes, Tina Ferraro, Courtney Summers and my all time favorite Elizabeth Scott - know how to consistently write powerful, emotional, and genuine stories.

      So to celebrate the release of Elizabeth Scott's newest work, Between Here and Forever, some of my fellow bloggers and I decided to devote a week to her books. We will be posting reviews, discussions, and an international giveaway of her best books.

      Join us from 5/18 to 5/24 by posting your own reviews and discussions as well!



      Schedule for Elizabeth Scott Book Week

      Wednesday 5/18 - Bloom @ Fiction Folio

      Thursday 5/19 - Perfect You @ I Eat Words

      Friday 5/20 - Something, Maybe @ Anna Reads

      SUPER Saturday 5/21
                            - Living Dead Girl @ GReads
                            - Love You, Hate You, Miss You @ I Eat Words
                            - Grace @ The Secret Life of an Avid Reader

      Sunday 5/22 - Stealing Heaven @ Addicted 2 Novels

      Monday 5/23 - The Unwritten Rule @ GReads

      Tuesday 5/24 - Between Here and Forever @ The Secret Life of an Avid Reader

      Giveaway Info to Come Soon! Grab a button and join us for Elizabeth Scott Week!




















      UPDATE: Elizabeth will be giving away a WHOLE set of her books to FOUR lucky winners, and if we can get the ten more blogs to sign up, she will give a total of TEN sets!!!!

      What does signing up entail? 
      Just that you will post your own Elizabeth Scott book review or discussion during that week and link it to the corresponding day.

      Book Review : The Goddess Test

      Book: The Goddess Test (#1)
      Author: Aimee Carter
      Publisher: Harlequin Teen
      Release Date: April 19, 2011
      Pages: 297
      Source: ARC
      Date Read: April 7, 2011

      It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

      Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

      Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.
      Yani's Analysis:
      I was hearing a lot of blog chatter about this book and immediately requested it on Netgalley. It is very different from what I am used to reading and that is probably why I never requested it before even though its been available for a while.

      What won me over about this book was the Greek mythology. It was so interesting! And inside this mythical world there was a mystery to solve. It was a super interesting backstory and I love how it was all incorporated into these tests,

      However, there where some drawback. Like some reviewers wrote, you have to let go of reality reading this book, just like our main character Kate did. Obviously it’s a mythical world, so how could it be real. My issue was the characters and their actions; sometimes it didn’t seem to make sense to me. I felt like the love was a little rushed and some things could have been developed more, but the backstory and the mystery really kept me reading straight into the night.

      The ending was neat, everything was solved, but still open ended enough to know there will be another book coming. One I will definitely be picking up when it comes out. Normally I would give a book like this a Great rather than Amazing rating, but since I could not stop reading and I just wanted to know more and more I gave it Amazing.


      Ratings:
      Plot: 3/5
      Writing Style: 4/5
      Uniqueness: 4/5
      Characters: 4/5

      Similar Titles:
      I know there are some new Greek mythology ones out there, but I haven't read any yet.

      Memorable Quotes:

      Monday, April 18, 2011

      Book Review : Hex Hall

      Book: Hex Hall (Book 1)
      Author: Rachel Hawkins
      Publisher: Hyperion Books
      Release Date: March 2, 2010
      Pages: 323
      Source: Bookshelf
      Date Read: April 10, 2011


      Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. 


      By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

      As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
      Yani's Analysis:
      What can I say about this book that hasn't been said. This book has been sitting in my bookshelf after I bought a bargain copy from borders. Finally, after reading yet another positive review I picked it up. Rachel Hawkins you have a new fan in me! The book was soooo funny. It almost read like a satire of all things paranormal, yet still had the serious aspects and mystery to it.Rachel's writing is banter like, sarcastic, and filled with pop culture reference/jokes.

      Although the book is very funny, there are some strong themes to it. Is evil is inherent or chosen? Does doing one bad things makes you a bad person? All these things are ideal that Sophie struggles with as she doesn't know who to trust is the new school full of paranormal Prodigium.There are so many secrets and more is revealed as you get close to the end.

      Sophie goes into that school a carefree and naive girl and in the end she becomes a girl that struggles with the amount of power she possesses."With great power comes great responsibility." I by the end of the book I think Sophie understands that.

      Really liked this book, it was so different from other paranormal books and includes every paranormal species.Can't wait to read what comes next!

      Ratings:
      Plot: 4/5
      Writing Style: 5/5
      Uniqueness: 4/5
      Characters: 5/5

      Similar Titles:

      Memorable Quotes:
      "What, no witty retort? No standard-issue Sophie Mercer comeback?"

      Sunday, April 17, 2011

      In My Mailbox # 1 4


      In My Mailbox {aka IMMB} is hosted by The Story Siren.


      Nothing this week, so sad =( 

      BUT I do have a bunch of amazing books on the way, like WOLFSBANE!! YAY

      Saturday, April 16, 2011

      Book Review : Shift

      Book: Shift (Shade #2)
      Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
      Publisher: Simon Pulse
      Release Date: May 3, 2011
      Pages: 384
      Source: Simon Pulse
      Date Read: April 8, 2011


      Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to. 


      Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
      As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.
      Yani's Analysis:
      There could not have been a better sequel to Shade than Shift. It's freaking perfect! And if it where to end right now, without a third book it would leave me satisfied. Don't get me wrong, I am dying to know what comes next for Aura, but the ending was just fantastic.

      As you all know I love my ghosts and Logan, despite his immature behavior at times, is my favorite ghost boy. In this book you can see how his afterlife has affected him, he has matured. Even though has hasn't aged a day over 17, he is becoming more adult. But as much as I love Logan, Zachary stole my heart in this book.

      As it is the second book more is revealed about he shift, and how the solstices and all that astronomy stuff has to do with it. I have never been into astronomy before, but this book makes me want to go sit outside and stare at the stars.

      There where some unexpected twists, especially in the first couple of pages and the last, so even though the mystery is unraveling there is till more to learn. I don't want to give too much away other that one of my favorite scenes that was both just funny and heart wrenching was this scene that Aura, Megan, Logan and Zachary where all in the same room having a meeting of the minds. I just loved that scene.

      If you have read Shade Go out and pre-order this book now!! It comes out May 3!

      Ratings:
      Plot: 5/5
      Writing Style: 5/5
      Uniqueness: 5/5
      Characters: 5/5

      Similar Titles:
      Shadowland (The Mediator, Book 1)The Mediator ReunionNinth Key (The Mediator, Book 2)Haunted (The Mediator, Book 5)The Mediator #6: TwilightDarkest Hour (The Mediator, Book 4)

      Memorable Quotes:

      coming soon
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