Book Blogger Hop - 1 July

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to 

connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other,

and generally just share our love of books!

“What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?“

Well, they just do. If you really need an answer, I would say action keeps me reading. Not battle scenes, but where the main character is finding out his/her problems and we could see future conflicts. And the language, of course. Hate boring scenes, extensive advises, cliches, too many smooches, slow pace and ridiculous characters(though I'd never read one so ridiculous I wanna put the book down).

Check this out : Dear Bully : Blogger Edition (3)

Feature and Follow Friday - 30 June

Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. First you leave your name here, then you create a post on your own blog that links back here and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them hi in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. The Feature bloggers are chosen randomly from participants in the Follow Friday or through twitter and blog introductions. If you are interested in becoming a Feature let me know! It is also required to follow the host blog (parajunkee.com) and the Feature blog to participate in the #FF.

 Today's feature : Erika @ Let's Talk About Books

Question : ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.       

      Robert Pattinson, a.k.a. Edward Cullen waltzes into the room I'm in... I see him coming through the door, walking to where I'm sitting. Just in a flash, he's in front of me. "Hi!" he says.


       ...

       ...

       ...

     Yup. Shocked into total silence. And then a long stream of stammer. "Oh Rob, you...you're...the...the mos...most...".

       Yup. Cool. Very cool.

Check this out : Dear Bully : Blogger Edition (3)

Enter the World of Harry Potter!

    Just found out that J.K Rowling is having a website for Harry Potter!!! In case you didn't know(you probably do, cause I'm the slow one) the website is called Pottermore, on pottermore.com. It is a site for fans to interact and get more information of the Harry Potter world. But the thing is the site will be opening in October, and that's a long way to reach. No fret, HP fans, you can gain early access and help shape the site if you visit the site on 31 July, which is Harry's birthday. Now, let's begin the long wait together. Harry Potter... October... Pottermore... Harry Potter... October... Pottermore...

Review : THE VAMPIRE DIARIES : THE RETURN : NIGHTFALL by L.J Smith

     

Elena Gilbert was dead, turned into a vampire, and dead again. Now she's back, as a real, solid human being, but her state of mind seems to be of a child. Then Bonnie got a premonition - be at the side of Elena when she's Awakened, or else(sorta). On one visit, Stefan, Bonnie, Meredith and Matt see Caroline Forbes chant Black Magic, and see Elena work the White Magic she possesses. Damon sense a new Power in Church's Fall, but didn't know what or who it was. But the strange Power gave life to the forest to crush the car Bonnie, Meredith and Matt are in, and they escaped just by luck and by help from the vampire brothers. A few days after the Awakening of Elena, Stefan mysteriously disappears, and girls around the town start acting weird. With Stefan gone and Damon being extra cruel, it's up to Elena, Bonnie, Meredith and Matt to save the town before the new Power overtakes it.

     

Nightfall is the fifth book in the series and sad to say, it didn't live up to my expectations. The language was clearly Ms Smith but the first half, - yes, half - was boring. Sure, there was some actions but some (almost every) of the scenes are a few pages too long. Too many kissing scenes and Elena-asking-for-a-kiss-and-drink scenes. Bo-ring! Luckily the later half gets interesting. Actions, suspense and mystery starts to pump up. People start getting crushed by trees and girls dressing in almost nothing. I like that Mrs Flower finally get to move around in this book(although not much). Two new characters are introduced, and I'm not saying who they are and what are their roles. You'll have to read yourself. And Damon keeps annoying the hell out of me. He likes Elena, and is willing to make a deal with the devil to get her, even if it means hurting his brother. But I see him liking Bonnie too, and keeps turning up to save her. Confusing lad. Sometimes I wanna strangle him myself, even if deep down he has a conscience. Overall, a good reading experience(if you can make it through the half). 

Cover : This Elena is more gorgeous than the first one but I don't see her being mean or icy.

Ratings : 4 stars

For more info about the book or author, please click here

Dear Bully : Blogger Edition (3)

        Cathy is holding a Dear Bully: Blogger Edition on her blog to speak out for bully victims. The activity is inspired by a book, Dear Bully. Dear Bully holds stories from Ellen Hopkins, Lauren Oliver, Carrie Ryan, Lisa McMann, Alyson Noel and more. The book is set to release August 23rd, 2011. Make sure to stop over by her blog and support her. Recently, she has an interview with a former victim of  bullying, Alisha from Black Nailed Reviews. The blog is owned by Alisha (Administrator) "Peace and Fangs", Brooke (Book Reviewer) "Sweet Daydreams" and Sara (Movie Reviewer) "Inked with Brilliance and Love". 

P/S Check out :

1. Dear Bully : Blogger Edition 
2. Dear Bully : Blogger Edition (2)
3. Cathy's blog

Review : FORSAKEN by Jana Oliver

Riley Blackthorne is an Apprentice Demon Trapper. She's following her father's footsteps, aspiring to be the best. However tough it might be in an Atlanta full of demons, she coped with life with her father by her side. But when her father dies, Riley must face life on her own -  and life has thrown a Grade 5 demon and 3 hot guys at her face.

The novel is written in a fast and precise pace, there always seems to have drama enfolding at every page. Just when I thought I have the next conflict correctly predicted, Oliver proves me wrong(not every time though). The author had my heart wrenching and collapsing in every sad scene(warning : a lot of sad scenes!), felling every thing the character feels and keeping me on edge. The main character, Riley, like most female protagonists in YA lit, is strong and witty. But I would like it better of she doesn't  yell in fear everytime she sees a bigger sized Hellspawn. I see 3 potential love interest in the beginning but it turns out one of them is not boyfriend material. One space left but it is not filled out until more than halfway through the book. That annoys  me. Overall, an original and heartbreaking story.

For the cover, one word : Devilish!

Ratings : 4.5 stars

For more info about the book or author, please click here

Dear Bully : Blogger Edition (2)

Remember earlier I discovered Cathy's blog from Parajunkee's Follow Friday. Cathy is helding a Dear Bully: Blogger Edition on her blog to speak out for bully victims. The activity is inspired by a book, Dear Bully. Dear Bully holds stories from Ellen Hopkins, Lauren Oliver, Carrie Ryan, Lisa McMann, Alyson Noel and more. The book is set to release August 23rd, 2011. Make sure to stop over by her blog and support her.

Cathy's having an interview with Ellen Hopkins. Ellen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, and Identical. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Make sure you check out her effort to minimize bullying.

Feature and Follow Friday - 17 June

Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. First you leave your name here, then you create a post on your own blog that links back here and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them hi in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. The Feature bloggers are chosen randomly from participants in the Follow Friday or through twitter and blog introductions. If you are interested in becoming a Feature let me know! It is also required to follow the host blog (parajunkee.com) and the Feature blog to participate in the #FF.

This week's feature: Rhiannon Pialle

This week's question:

Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

      My favorite genre... Has to be YA! My first English (300 pages plus) novel is YA and I had fallen in love ever since. Fave book(s) - The Night World series by L. J Smith. First book(series) I came into contact too. And I'm starting to like dystopian, a result of reading The Hunger Games.

      Have a happy weekend!


 

Waiting On Wednesdays - 15 June

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm a vampire fan, and I crave for House of Night. I've been following the series for years(3 years to be accurate) since I first saw it in 2009. The newest installment, Destined is set to hit stores on October 25, 2011. For old fans, I don't think I have to say how awesome this series is; for new ones, pick it up right now.

Book Blogger Hop - 10 June

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to 

connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other,

and generally just share our love of books!

(This week's hop is hosted by Lori)

“Who is the ONE author that you are DYING to meet?

There are tons of authors I'm dying to meet, however, I'm just gonna write one(and all hell broke lose). Eventually, I have to decide. And my answer is :

Stephen King. 

Yup. Not your average YA author but I'd read his books and he is great, one of the greatest storyteller of our time. I loved Lisey's story and would give anything to get inside his mind.  

* P/S Please check out my post about the Dear Bully: Blog Edition.

Dear Bully : Blogger Edition

          I discovered Cathy's blog from Parajunkee's Follow Friday. Cathy is helding a Dear Bully: Blogger Edition on her blog to speak out for bully victims. The activity is inspired by a book, Dear Bully. Dear Bully holds stories from Ellen Hopkins, Lauren Oliver, Carrie Ryan, Lisa McMann, Alyson Noel and more. The book is set to release August 23rd, 2011. Make sure to stop over by her blog and support her.

Feature and Follow Friday : 9 June

Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. First you leave your name here, then you create a post on your own blog that links back here and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them hi in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. The Feature bloggers are chosen randomly from participants in the Follow Friday or through twitter and blog introductions. If you are interested in becoming a Feature let me know! It is also required to follow the host blog (parajunkee.com) and the Feature blog to participate in the #FF.

                       Our Feature  - Nicki J Markus

  

Now for the question: 

The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy! What's not to love : gorgeous, smokin' hot,  witty, adventurous and badass Guardian. She also has her soulmate, Dimitri and best friend, Lissa at her side. Plus, her parents rocks!

Waiting On Wednesdays - June 8

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 My pick for the week:  

The much awaited Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, coming out on November 8, 2011. Eragon is simply wonderful. Brisingr is still on my TBR list since I bought it last year but come on, 1000+ pages? I know, I know, I have to find a week to read Brisingr.

Synopsis from Amozon:

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

So, what's your WoW pick this week?

Waiting On Wednesdays - June 1

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm waiting for The House of Night series as long as it's another installment. And Zoey's drama is hardly over. So I'll be checking on the House of Night website regularly.