a little bit of catching up...

All right, this is going to be super quick and therefore pretty concise. First, I think I should admit that I didn't finish the Harry Potter series this time through. I hit the figurative brick wall in the middle of Goblet of Fire and couldn't finish and felt like I was wasting my last remaining days of summer on something that my heart wasn't really in, which didn't seem right to me. (Currently listening to: "Stay Together for the Kids"- Blink-182) So, I went to the library and browsed the new book shelf as I normally do and came up with Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout, the same two ladies that wrote Girl vs. Boy and the Vivien Leigh Reid series (both of which I've read). It was a story of Zahra, Kali, and Syd, three unlikely friends that met in group therapy following the divorces of each of their parents. They soon realize that they've all been dating the same guy at the same time without realizing it and arrange for some good, old-fashioned revenge. After which, they realize they can help others get revenge and thus begins Love, Inc., a company dedicated to love in all its forms: revenge, matchmaking, mediation, and break-ups. I really liked the individual personalities of the girls and the general plot. Although it dragged a tad in the middle/end, I still think it was deserving of a spot on The List. Moving on. ("Happy Fun Song"- Straight Outta Junior High) Next, I picked up My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, which K had recommended to me over a year ago and I had forgotten about until I was volunteering at the library and shelving books and the title jumped out at me. Samantha Reed, daughter of a senator, spends her childhood watching her next door neighbors, the Garretts, from her balcony with a sense of awe. They are the exact opposite of her clean, precise, classy family: messy, crowded, loud, and unorganized.("Juke Box Hero"- Foreigner) Enter Samantha's seventeenth summer and a relationship that blossoms with Jase, one of the Garrett kids. Sam learns about love, family, and the consequences of the truth. Although there were thoroughly irritating characters (Mrs. Reed, Clay, Nan), there were also some true gems (Sam, Jase, Tim, George, Alice) that really made the book that much more special. I loved the humor, narrative voice, and idea of a summer whirlwind romance. However, the ending caught me off guard and wasn't all that clear or fulfilling. Also, after finishing, I walked around in a daze for several hours, the effects of the book still not wearing off. However, despite its negatives, I gave it four stars and a spot on The List. Next up was Whip It by Shauna Cross. After watching the movie for the first time this summer, I thought it would be a great book to check out and boy was I right. I love the sarcastic, witty, educated humor that Bliss maintains throughout the entire book. It reminded me of my own internal dialogue and I loved it. She was such a relatable character for me and plus roller derby is just so badass that how could you not be intrigued? Also, there were all kinds of musical references that I got, loved, and really appreciated--especially when Bliss was saying that Weezer's Pinkerton is the best makeout album-- I mean it's Weezer's best album, in my opinion and I just loved that she incorporated that. It was honestly the funniest book I've read in a long, long time and I've been kind of disappointed by the lack of quick, intellectual, snarky humor in everything I've read since. Loved the movie, loved the book. Verdict: Five stars and a spot on The List of 55. I recently reread Just Listen by Sarah Dessen and was struck once again by how utterly amazing Owen is and how much I really need to find his twin brother at my school or something :) Still just as great as ever and, of course, parts that I went back and reread just for my own emotional reading pleasure (for example, the scene when Owen takes Annabel's picture and shows her what she means to him--my favorite scene). Oddly enough, I was talking to K in the hallway the other day and she was saying that she's rereading it right now too. Great minds think alike I guess. A couple days ago I finished All I Need by Susane Colasanti, which I was super skeptical of from the beginning because I haven't really been a fan of Colasanti in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a decent love story of serendipity and taking chances and summer romance, but there were parts that I just didn't like. For example, the excessive teenage girl drama between Skye's friends and the awful ex-girlfriend and the weird passage of time. I really enjoyed the alternating POV, as I've always loved. Also, Seth was such a gentleman and I really enjoyed reading his chapters because he just seems like the sort of guy I would fall for. *sigh* Now, I'm ready to start The Secret Ingredient by Stewart Lewis, the author of You Have Seven Messages, which I didn't particularly like. However, I'm willing to give the author another shot. Also, it was on the New Book Shelf and sounded interesting and the cover is really beautiful. Well, I will post when/if I have time in the future because with sports and activities and school and a social life it's going to be pretty difficult to get around to posting anything for a while. Hang in there, though. I'll be back soon enough.
Happy Reading!
-M

summer reading

Hello all! I realize that I haven't posted anything since the 24 Hour Readathon, so I should probably get you guys up to date. On April 27 I participated in a readathon and I completed four books: One Night by Marsha Qualey, Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen, Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber, and Perry's Killer Playlist by Joe Schreiber. I didn't particularly care for One Night because I felt like I couldn't relate to the characters and I didn't really like the premise of the book. However, a friend recommended it, so I figured I'd give it a try. As for Someone Like You, I've read it before and didn't really care for it then. However, it's Sarah Dessen so I decided to give it another shot. Nope. Still didn't like it. The  guy (Macon) was kind of an ass and the family (HER MOM) was so irritating and I almost couldn't keep reading because they were getting on my nerves. Also, Noah is a whiny little boy who needs to move on with  his life. Sorry, I'm getting worked up about this and it's been about a month and a half since I finished it, but it's Dessen and I (and K) hold her to a higher standard. Let's just say that this book didn't cut it. Also, recently I re-read That Summer (also by Dessen), which is another one that I didn't like the first time I read it. The second time it didn't get much better. I thought the main character was kind of immature and I didn't like her incredibly bratty sister who I'm not sure I would be able to stand living with for more one or two days before slapping her upside the head. She has no consideration for anyone but herself and leaves behind a wake of broken hearts/feelings. That was another second read-through strike-out for Ms. Dessen. Back to the readathon wrap-up: I loved reading Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick, a book that was recommended by a librarian-friend of mine. The fast pace and interesting plot line kept me engaged at whatever outrageous hour I was reading it. It was so full of action that it really pulled me in until the end and earned a spot on The List of 55 (number 28). I then proceeded to pick up the sequel (Perry's Killer Playlist) and start in on that, but not before I could go to Grooveshark (in my opinion, the best internet music website) and compile a playlist of the songs that were used as chapter titles in the book so that during each chapter I could listen to the appropriate song. I think this also helped keep me awake and really enhanced the story. I suggest doing this and getting it all set up ahead of time before starting the book and then being prepared to hit replay on some songs so it gets you through the whole chapter before moving on to the next song. Also, it definitely helped that Joe Schreiber apparently has a similar taste in music as me. I would recommend both of these books although the sequel didn't make "The List." After the readathon, during the last month of school, I didn't have much time for reading, but somehow managed to sneak in Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti, Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz, Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz, and the aforementioned That Summer by Sarah Dessen. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart was one of those books that I was not very pleased with and I'm pretty sure I had a nice couple of rant sessions while I was reading it. However, much as I wanted to quit reading it, I couldn't because I just had to know what happened. While the general idea of the bad boy really appealed to me, I thought it was poorly executed and a tad cliché. Definitely didn't live up to the ultimate standard of "bad boy", John Bender. Also, I wasn't really happy with the ending. Next up was Blue Bloods, which I thought was very interesting and well-written. It definitely held my attention and was a nice introduction into the whole vampire genre for me. Then I read the sequel, which was slightly less captivating, but still ok. I'm sure eventually I'll get around to reading the rest of the series, but not now. Then, this summer so far in the past week I've read Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler, Supernaturally by Kiersten White, and Being Henry David by Cal Armistead. Bittersweet was good, predictable plot, but good. Not exactly appropriate seeing as how it takes place in the dead of winter and  I read it the first week of summer, but good nonetheless. Supernaturally is the sequel that I've been getting excited about ever since I read and loved Paranormalcy several months ago. It was good and kept me intrigued, but not as good as the first and I felt like there was still unresolved conflict that was bothering me. Also, the ending felt very very rushed and kind of just felt unfinished. Then, today I read and finished Being Henry David, which reminded me a little of Paper Covers Rock, so of course I loved it and it's going on The List (number 29). A boy wakes up in a train station and can't remember who he is, why he's there, or anything about his past. All he knows is that there is a ten dollar bill in his pocket and a copy of Henry David Thoreau's Walden at his side. It's a book of adventure, but also one in which the main character finds himself. It was a very enjoyable read and I loved everything, except for the ending, which was left a bit open-ended, perhaps for readers to fill in the blanks for themselves. Very well done, especially since it was Ms. Armistead's first book. I look forward to reading more of her books as they come. Another great New Book Shelf find that I took a chance on and ended up loving. With this book, I completed the Summer Reading Program at my library, which requires 1000 pages to complete. Now, I'm working towards the extra incentive of another free book by going for 5000 pages by August 6. Every year I've done the Young Adult program, I've made it to 5000, so I don't plan on stopping anytime soon :) I am now about to start Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter, which I know very little about, as it was also a New Book Shelf find. Enjoy the summer sunshine and, more importantly, rain showers. Happy Reading!

-M

15) The Name of the Star

ok guys i know i just posted a couple days ago, but since then i have finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which made me feel like my life's purpose was gone because i've spent so much of my time with Harry, Ron, and Hermoine o' course :P ). the re-reading of the entire series was very satisfying and i picked up on some stuff that i hadn't noticed the first time around. i wholly (sp?) encourage K to get through the series because they're awesome. nuff said. (song: Come As You Are (live)--Nirvana)
i went to our public library today for my volunteer shift (this happens every thursday during the summer) and checked out a book despite the fact that i told myself i would walk out of there empty-handed. it's called Chopsticks by: Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral. a couple months ago i had read a review on a book blog i read occassionally. it's a book that tells a story through pictures, letters, quotes, and other types of mixed media forms. i was intrigued and thus when i saw it on the New Book Shelf at the library i just HAD to pick it up. i'm very intrigued to start it and sorta flipped through it earlier. (song: Bullet with Butterfly Wings--Smashing Pumpkins) so that is now on my stack of books (it's pretty small though so i don't feel quite so bad about it).
after finishing the wonderful series of Ms. Rowling, i started The Name of the Star by: Maureen Johnson. this book has been in the back of my mind since whenever it came out. a friend of mine is a huge fan of Maureen Johnson, so she kept going on and on about it when we were in Barnes and Noble. i told myself that i would read it eventually, but hadn't seen it around the library much because it was always checked out when i was in there. so, when i went to the library (probably for another volunteer shift) a couple weeks ago and saw it was in, i was thrilled. (Ain't No Rest for the Wicked--Cage the Elephant) although the other books i checked out that day were due, i kept only this one because i had been waiting so long to read it. as it turns out, it's a great thing that i read this right after Harry Potter, because there were some noticeable similarities that made it easier to transition into real life again. for example: it takes place at an English boarding school where there are prefects and head boys and girls. i was so excited when i found that part out. now, i don't know if all English boarding schools are organized like this, but it came as a shock to me, the naive American. (The House of the Rising Sun--The Animals) oh and i should also point out that i'm very into books that take place in boarding schools, so if there are any suggestions out there, that would be great. anyway, a quick synopsis for y'all:
Aurora (Rory...like in Gilmore Girls :P ) is from New Orleans and moves to England her senior year of high school to go to boarding school at Wexford, a pretty prestigious school. (One Headlight--The Wallflowers) London is in a state of panic after a murder takes place in exactly the same fashion of the killings of Jack the Ripper in the 1800's. This copycat is scaring everyone because they know that the city isn't safe on certain days (the same days that the original Ripper victims were killed). Rory finds herself in the middle of all the conflict and has to juggle that, her new friends and roommates, homework, and adjusting to the culture of boarding school.
This book is great because it incorporates mystery, romance, chick lit (which is pretty much the same as the one before it), paranormal, and suspense. i haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. i was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book and started it one day (read 30 pages) then finished it the next day and the book is 370 pages long. i was hooked from the start. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. (My Hero--Foo Fighters *sidenote: i like the acoustic version better, but whatever*) i simply can't explain how great this book was and am thoroughly looking forward to the next books in the series when they come out. until then, i will continue enjoying reading Maureen Johnson's tweets, as they are always obscure yet awesome in a creepy way. anyway, for those reasons and many more, The Name of the Star deserves a spot on The List of 55. we're up to #15! woo hoo! yay us!
so, after reading such an awesome book, i sat down last night and had planned to start reading Obsessed by Ted Dekker, but was somehow drawn to a Sarah Dessen book because i was feeling very girly and needed some good chick lit. so, i grabbed my copy of Along For the Ride and read it until about 4am when i finally gave in and fell asleep (i stayed up to read it in homage to Eli and Auden's nighttime wanderings). i then finished it today and was very pleased. (Brain Stew--Green Day) however, i've said it before and i'll say it again: the ending isn't quite satisfying. as K said in her last post: it's like The Vow's ending. we're girls. we need closure and a good, satisfying, if not stereotypical and cheesy ending to keep us happy. (Self Esteem--The Offspring)
on a completely unrelated note, i'm really enjoying my Nirvana Pandora station right now, as you might've noticed from my song choices. i've been listening to it for the past few days and i feel like Owen would be so proud of how much i've branched out. i never would've thought that i would be the type of person to listen to Nirvana, but here i am. so i guess you never know until you try. also, stereotyping people is bad. in general. i'm just pointing this out because people are often more than they appear to be. oh and i was very happy when i saw that Serena Williams won her match at Wimbledon this morning. i will definitely be rooting for her Saturday morning in the finals if i'm up. this ties back to the whole England obsession that i harbor, as does K. we have problems and we know it. (In One Ear--Cage the Elephant) ok enough rambling from me. good bye, auvoir, adios. (sorry, that's the extent of my foreign language knowledge) happy reading and enjoy your lives and keep the music loud :)
-M

summer has been summoned

"Paging Dr. Summer. Dr. Summer to the front desk." haha i'm just being funny (or at least trying), but seriously did you see what i did there ("paging" as in reading....no? ok then, i guess my puns aren't that punny)? so, the reason why i haven't blogged since the end of April is because of one thing: SCHOOL and more specifically: FINALS. K and i got off on Thursday and i am now free to do whatever the hell i want. YAY! for me, that includes: running every single morning for cross country, volunteering at the library once a week for two hours, reading so much i have constant headaches, hanging out with cool friends like K, drinking WAYYY too many lattes at Starbucks, running some more, doing the Summer Reading Program at aforementioned library, and going to an amusement park at least twice over the course of the summer. To set the scene, as i sometimes like to do....Currently Listening to: All My Days by Alexi Murdoch (this will change throughout and i will probably comment on it, so stick with me here). Wearing: a flowered tank and Roxy shorts. Sitting: at the foot of my parents bed on the floor against the footboard. Now that you've got an idea of the setting, let's continue on. So, i have a lot to get you guys caught up on. Let the catching up commence!

1. A Bend in the Road by: Nicholas Sparks......Well, you can find your first clue that i liked it by glancing at the author's name. that should tell you all you need to know, but i will elaborate simply because i think you deserve the basic plotline before picking it up for yourselves. SONG: Glad You Came-The Wanted.  So basically it's about a man (Miles) who's wife was killed by a hit and run as she was jogging. Him and his son (Jonah) are still grieving and, him being a policeman, can't get over the fact that they don't know who was driving the car that killed his wife. New in town is Sarah Andrews (whose name always makes me think of the graceful woman who is Julie Andrews), Jonah's teacher at school. Jonah shows signs that he's struggling in school, so she takes time every day after school to help him one-on-one. Through this, she starts getting to know his father. I mean, it's pretty obvious from the start what is going to happen because, after all, this is Nicholas Sparks we're talking about :) However, what did catch me off guard was the "big reveal" of the driver of the hit and run vehicle. I definitely did not see that coming, so I appreciated the twist. I gave it 5/5 stars because it was enjoyable and a good book for those who enjoy the chick lit genre as much as i do.
2. Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by: Kate Brian....This was the book that i got from K at a book swap, which seems like ages ago. SONG: You Sleep Alone-hellogoodbye. When i read the back cover/inside the jacket, i was really intrigued and the "chick lit hormones" (which are nonexistant, but for the purposes of this blog actually exist) in me were going crazy. The idea of Megan living in a house with seven guys was very appealing to me. Anyway, so as i was reading the book, i constantly disagreed with Megan's taste in guys until she finally came to her senses and realized her feelings for the one i'd been rooting for all along. I'm sorry, but i don't normally trust a guy who wears polos, khaki shorts, and Sperry's and he definitely seemed like the type. It was a very good story, but when the end came, it had no close. There were so many unanswered questions about Megan and Finn and even some doubt about Evan, who is such a tool, if you ask me. I was pretty outraged that there was no epilogue, as i am a HUGE fan of epilogues...they fix all :) Also, there is no sequel. It was not very clear as to relations between Megan and Finn, the guy i'd been rooting for the entire book. SONG: Not Alone-Seabird. I had to rely on my quite elaborate imagination to do what the author obviously couldn't. Very irritating. This is the only reason why i gave it a 3.5/5 which may seem harsh just for the ending, but i was emotionally invested and then left completely hanging for NO APPARENT REASON!
3. Two Way Street by: Lauren Barnholt.......I read this book over Spring Break (which i realize was forever ago, but cut me some slack) and i really enjoyed the plotline: Jordan broke up with Courtney for a girl he met on MySpace and now they are stuck together in his car for the long road trip to college. Needless to say, it's awkward, hurtful, and unpleasant. However, Courtney doesn't know the ACTUAL reason why Jordan broke up with her and he might just like her more than he lets on. There's some great conversations and great bickering between the two of them and it ends in a satisfactory way, so i was appeased. This earned a spot on The List of 55 with a 5/5 stars.
4. Also, over Spring Break, i re-read Keeping the Moon by: Sarah Dessen for about the 4th time. It is just such a satisfying book and i have a policy about which books i can take on SB. I only take books i know will be good, even/especially if that means re-reading some Dessen books (i did just that). It was just as good as it was the first time :) I would also be happy if she wrote a sequel to it, because i just can't get enough of Colie and Norman :) I know, i'm mushy today, but i can't help it.
5. Another favorite that i re-read over SB was The Last Song by: Nicholas Sparks. SONG: Aperture-Sleeping at Last. I love the book and the movie (the book more so, yet the movie has a great soundtrack with artists like Jose Gonzalez and Iron and Wine and Eskimo Joe). Ronnie is such a relatable character (in the book at least) and Will is such a gentleman. Also, i love the religious aspect of the book and the EPILOGUE!!! i know i already told you that i'm an epilogue junkie, but seriously. that's how it's done, son. take notes from Mr. Sparks. it was possibly the most satisfying and necessary epilogue i've ever read.
6. Dreamland by: Sarah Dessen....surprisingly, i hadn't read this Dessen book yet before SB. However, i  came into it with very high expectations seeing as how she's my favorite author. Well. Let's just say that i wasn't a fan of this book. i didn't like the heavy drug usage and weakness of the main character. She was getting abused by her boyfriend (which is the entire basis of the book) and she doesn't stand up for herself, because "he's just doing it out of love for me". NO. He's an asshole and you need to report him then stay as far away from him as possible and get on with your life. I honestly don't see how she put up with it so long. I would like to think that if i were ever in her position i would have the metaphorical balls to stop him after just one offense instead of waiting until there are blue and purple bruises all over my body. I can't imagine lying to my parents and telling them i fell on the driveway or some other lame excuse. Anyway, i came into the book knowing it would piss me off greatly, yet i knew that i still wanted to read it just so i would have "experience" in that area in case something like that ever came up (basically i wanted it to scare the crap out of me so i could be even more assertive if that happened to me or a friend). i'm still pissed about this book and this topic, but it was pretty well written, which is why it earned 3/5 stars instead of Dessen's normal score of 5/5.
7. Winter Town by: Stephen Emond....may i just say that the New Book Shelf is the best?! I know i already touched on that fact back when i was raving about Paper Covers Rock. However, it is still relevant because that is where i found Winter Town. Now, normally i'm not a big fan of reading books out of season, if you know what i mean. Because i read this book in the spring and it was all about the winter, but i didn't really mind with this book because it was SO DANG GOOD! It had 2 aspects that i really enjoy in a book: alternating POVs and an epilogue! Yay! The book would've been very disappointing if Emond hadn't added it in. It is about the lives of Lucy and Evan, two lifelong friends who only get to see each other every winter. However, this year, Lucy has changed a lot since the last time Evan saw her, and they find themselves drawn to each other in a way that is more than just friends. The book includes writing, short comics, and drawings scattered throughout to show the reader what the main characters are drawing during the story. It is unlike any book i have ever read and yet i loved it. As i read the book, i found myself wishing i could find my own Evan because he's cute, smart, funny, a great artist, sweet, and has a great taste in music. I found this in the description of the book on Stephen Emond's website: "It’s an indie movie in a book, perfect for the inner outcast and lovelorn nerd in all of us." So, so true. That basically sums up my opinion of the book in a much more eloquent way. This also made The List of 55 with a score of 5/5. Just go out right now and read it! Please!
8. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by: Abby McDonald.....i'm pretty sure this was also a New Book Shelf find. Sadie is the daughter of a very successful therapist/life coach/guest speaker, so when she gets her heart broken, she writes a how-to guide/12-step program about how to get over Garrett, her longtime best friend and crush when he goes away for the summer and meets "the love of his life". She is crushed and gets a job at a cafe where she works with all sorts of lovely and interesting people. SONG: Loud Pipes-Ratatat. This book shows Sadie's realization of how she contoured herself to fit the things that Garrett liked. As I was reading this, i realized that over the years i've been doing the same thing with my brother and since reading this book, i've been trying to change that and become more of an individual instead of always looking for his approval. This got a 4/5 because i felt at times like it dragged and was sort of all over the place at times. However, the ending was nice and a certain person (not naming any names here) got his comeuppance, which was great for me. 
9. The Lucky One by: Nicholas Sparks..... I went and saw the movie in theaters with K the day after our last post and we loved it :) Zac Efron....ahhh...*sigh*. Anyway, after that, i decided to read the book, which i had just gotten for my birthday. It was, dare i say, about on the same level as the movie. I mean, the movie got his look better than the book, because think about it: he was in the army and in the book he's got long shaggy hair. No. They had it right in the movie when he had a buzz cut-traditional army look. However, i obviously liked the book better, since there were more details and a  better back story. i was just surprised that the movie people did a halfway decent job of staying semi-true to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it got a 5/5 as most Nicholas Sparks books do. However, it's not making The List of 55 because i feel like it wasn't quite on that level.
10. The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by: Lynn Weingarten.....another great long-shot from the New Book Shelf. Lucy (this is the second book recently that had a Lucy as the main character....coincidence? i think not.) got dumped by her boyfriend on the first day of school, right when she had decided that she was willing to give herself to him. SONG: Ships in the Night-Mat Kearney (i'm on a Kearney kick currently). She was definitely caught off guard and went to the bathroom where she cried and tried getting Sharpie off her skin. (She had written a provocative message to Alex, dumper, on her stomach in Sharpie) While she was crying, Olivia, an older and glamorous girl gave her a scarf to dry her tears with and then left mysteriously. It wasn't until later that Lucy realized that the scarf had a message on it when affected by her tears in an almost magical way. This message told her to meet Olivia and friends at an old house. This was her introduction to The Sisterhood of Heartbreakers, a group that makes it so that their hearts can never be broken again and they avoid the turmoil that goes with it. Also, along the way, Lucy realizes that they possess magical powers that could come in handy to win Alex back, which is against the rules. Lucy gets the self-esteem boost that she so desperately needs from these girls and uses her new-found confidence to practice reeling in the guys. It's a very unique book, but i was disappointed by the ending. This is why it received only 4/5 stars. However, i heard yesterday that Ms. Weingarten is writing a sequel, so that's something i will look forward to read, especially considering the fact that i think Lucy made a big mistake by refusing a certain guy towards the end. Maybe that can somehow be reversed and she can make the "right decision"? I hope so!! SONG: Count On Me-Mat Kearney.
11. The Book Thief by: Markus Zusak....may i just start by saying that his name is AWESOME? anyway, so we were required to read this book in English class. i thought it was way too long and depressing. However, i LOVED how the story was told from the POV of Death. that was very intriguing to me. It was very well written and i think that Mr. Zusak has a lot of talent, however, the book was just too depressing for me, especially at the end. it received a 3/5. Yes, i realize i didn't do a description or plot summary, but it was way too long for me to even get into without this being an absurdly long post, as it is getting to be anyway.
12. The Pearl by: John Steinbeck...once again, a required reading book in English class. I hated it. Plain and simple. it was the shortest book ever (100ish pages) and the plot was very predictable and depressing and i just don't like John Steinbeck. also, i didn't like it because i had to write an essay comparing it to Of Mice and Men (also by stupid Steinbeck), which was our final exam and really sucked. i refuse to ever read any of his other stuff unless it is required in school like The Pearl and Of Mice and Men were required for me this year. SONG: Madison-Belle Histoire. Kino and Juana find "the pearl of the world" and then there is death, fleet, more death, more death, and yeah that's pretty much it. Such a happy book! *heavy sarcasm* <---i hope someone got that reference to Alex Reads Twilight. K? Please tell me you got that. 
13. Graffiti Moon by: Cath Crowley.....i think you've got the point by now that i love the New Book Shelf and this is a find from there. THE BEST BOOK THAT I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME! i finished this book yesterday. i started it yesterday morning. what does that tell you? i spent my entire day reading this book and enjoying every single page. it was witty, entertaining, and there was dramatic irony throughout the entire book because of the alternating POVs, which we've already established that i love, especially when it's a guy and girl. Guy: Ed aka Shadow. Girl: Lucy (the third Lucy in this post!!! this is no coincidence! it's a conspiracy!). Lucy is in love with the work of Shadow, a graffiti artist in her city. Shadow does the art and Poet sprays on words or a short poem that fits the art. Lucy and Ed were in the same art class and he eventually asked her out. They went out and he barely spoke. He then made the mistake of touching her "arse" (the book takes place in Australia) and she punches him in the face, breaking his nose. She just leaves and doesn't talk to him after that. Ed drops out of school and she hasn't seen him since, but is still mad about their date. Lucy, Jazz, and Daisy (three very different best friends) follow around, respectively, Ed, Leo (aka Poet), and Dylan in Lucy's search for Shadow. It is super awkward because Ed and Lucy refuse to talk to each other because they are both still mad about their "date". However, the author takes the reader along for Lucy and Ed's wild night of adventure, art, and love. This book was just too good. Simple as that. I couldn't find a flaw. There were twists and turns and a great ending. i found myself smiling throughout the entire book and after i finished, i texted K telling her to go out and buy/check out the book from the library. she asked me what it was about and i wasn't exactly out of my "awesome book" haze yet in order to tell her. Sitting here typing, glancing furtively at Graffiti Moon sitting next to me it makes me want to read it all over again right now, which i'm seriously considering. Hmmm....we'll see. So, obviously a book of this greatness deserves a spot on The List of 55. Duh! I've been waiting since last night to write this review, but i got distracted last night and ended up watching a special on Harry Potter for an hour and a half and was up until 4:30am. Yeah, i'm a Potterhead. i know. 

So, yeah. That's all folks. Sorry it was so long, but i had a lot to get caught up on. oh and i tagged The Breakfast Club because i assumed it would be mentioned again, so i guess i better talk about it briefly. last night, i watched The Breakfast Club with my family, which was sorta awkward especially when the characters started talking about sex and stuff. When it was over, my brother, who hadn't seen it except in IPR class 4 or 5 years ago, said that he didn't like it then and he didn't like it now. WHAT?? Are we even related? My mom and dad didn't like it either. *gasp/scoff* My dad asked me "M, why do you like this movie so much?" i was silent. my mother, who thought i didn't hear him, said "M, did you answer him?" "no" "why?" "because i have no answer to that." *as i'm putting the disc away in the case from the DVD player* Mom: "you just like it because you're in high school and that stuff is relevant to you with all the cliques at your school." Me: "mom, i'm not gonna psychoanalyze this ok? i don't have 2 hours to discuss this movie like we did after Inception, so just stop." i start walking upstairs to my room and i hear my dad say this: "you just like it because basically the kids blame all their problems on their parents and you can relate." SMH. THEY DON'T GET IT!! i know K gets it, but they sure don't. i vow right now that i will never ever watch it with them ever again. These are the same parents who think John Bender is a bad influence and a jerk and my mother thinks that Dr. Sheldon Cooper from TBBT is annoying and immature. once again, how am i related to these people?! ughhhhh.

enjoy the sunshine. soak up the words. rain is awesome and calming.

-M