Short Story Friday(#2)

Last week's short story was partially true with some extra stuff throw in there, and so will this week's short story Friday. I was looking back lately on what to write this week, and I discovered that I have had many boy issues with boys I have never dated. What is up with that? Probably 97% of guys I have met caused some sort of drama or difficulty in a relationship where I have just met them.

There's no hiding that I am a student. I still go to public school, and going to public school means a couple of things. It means 1) that you are always told that anything in the school could be cut funding in a pin drop, 2) having marvelous teachers, and grass watching teachers, 3) there are the 'popular' and then the not so popular-I'm in between the populars and not so populars. Then lastly, 4) there is the ever present dating game with girls and guys and how guys will be utterly rude and insensitive.

I feel like I should just state a claim out there that there are some pretty amazing guys-whether they are guy friends or boyfriends. This is just me ranting about a guy that I have gotten over a month or so ago, and I thought that our relationship-if you can even say that-was an interesting episode.

First day of school, go to my first class and I have to sit next to the most annoying and 'stupid' guy in the class. Because I am kind of a kiss up to teachers, I've experienced this. It is not like I enjoy it, but it's just something you have to deal with.

Here are some things I've heard about this guy in the past few years: he's incredible at basketball and hand to hand combat, he is annoying from all the things my girl friends have told me, and he talks about the most discriminate things.

Hold your horses for a moment. This is public school, where almost everyone says things like 'you are so gay' 'blacks can't swim, they are stupid, etc' 'Asians are smart and all of them have mean and strict parents at home that whip them' 'whites are the norm'... The list goes on and on and truthfully I hate myself for even typing those words. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Moving on, I already had my perception of this guy. Let's call this guy, Eric. He is what I described to you above, from the first five minutes I sat next to him. People like him, I stay away from because I know I'll just get red in the face and he'd end up getting away with everything.

This one moment really stood out for me: we had a test this day, and I had already peaked interest that he was copying off of me for little quizzes/exit cards. Little things like that and homework don't really get to me much because I have to say I do that sometimes too. I don't do it weekly, but I would be lying if I never copied off of someone's homework. So this day was the first big test in the class. I think it was about sixty points for the entire assessment.

With the knowledge that I knew this guy was copying off of me, I decided to trick him. I've never tried to trick a copier before, so this was a first, and it came out more successful than I would have imagined. What I did was, do all of the problems in out of sequence. The thing that really shocked me was when I skipped almost more than half of the first page and gone to the next, he just waited there staring into space. I laughed internally. He probably thought I was just checking the whole packet out, but boy was he wrong. I could feel the resentment pouring out of him. That was extremely rewarding.

Then there came the day where we got it back. I was very surprised that I had gotten a perfect score. While, wait for it... He got a C! Oh the look in his face, it was priceless.

Of course those kinds of people always try to make themselves bigger so here are the next events: He insults me on my bad handwriting-which I am aware of and proud of-but that he blames my bad handwriting on him getting a C is ridiculous.

I'm not the kind of person that would waste my time on someone that doesn't deserve it. I'm quite aware of where I stand for myself, and to others. So I didn't even want to go into the conversation-more like argument. I would usually vent thing like that out later with friends, and move on with my life.

Guess what he did next. No, really, guess. You would never get this:he asked me if I could help him in the class-a tutor.

My thoughts exactly as the words left his mouth: Woah! Back track right there, cowboy. You just copied off my paper and then you insulted me!!! How dare you ask me to help you! What kind of idiotic,[many cuss words later]... You can't possibly be this stupid. I mean come on now!! Gah!! I hate cheaters.

About a week later I decided to just stop talking to him. From the day of the test he had relentlessly trying to get my attention and make me explode. There were some racists comments, that many of his friends laughed to, but of course I could not. There were times where he just could not accept my differences and this is sounding really strange now... I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are some people out there that can't seem to comprehend or play with the idea that there are people out there that have different beliefs and practices. It really makes me sad, but c'est la vie.

I did ignore him and I haven't talked to him in a month. I don't care about him, if that is what you are thinking because of last week's post. This person has no place in my heart and I intend to keep it that way. There maybe some people that said he liked me. I have heard that guys usually make fun of girls they like. I can't wrap my head around someone that goes as far as he does. It's not a teasing remark, but a deliberately trying to make me angry for laughs. I don't stand for that sort of thing.

I guess I can put this story out there for commentaries. Thanks for reading if you read all of this post. It was quite long and I'll try to write something more happy and less venting next week. Have a great weekend!

Love and Hugs
Clara

Places to Post Your Writing

I have been trying to get more feedback on my writing lately, and the best way to do so is to put it out there on the internet. I thought that it would be neat to put all the websites that I know of that you can share your story and then get feedback from other people that read it.

issuu
http://issuu.com/

readwave
http://readwave.com/

fanfiction.net
http://www.fanfiction.net/

fictionpress
http://www.fictionpress.com/

wattpad
http://www.wattpad.com/

booksie
http://www.booksie.com/

figment
http://figment.com/

fanstory
http://www.fanstory.com/

writers network
http://www.writers-network.com/

amateur writing
http://www.amateur-writing.com/

writeandshare
http://www.writeandshare.co.uk/

I personally use fiction press, just because it is easier and I am use to the website. You can find me on fictionpress by the pen name Clarareads. If you have any other writing sharing websites please leave a comment below and I will add it to the list.

Love and Hugs
Clara

Don't Quote Me (#17)

So true...

I have learned this recently, and most people around me have not. So, they always think of me strange when I don't let things get to me, and make me mad. 

This was a shocker, and I hope this isn't true. It's not true right?

Nanowrimo has made me embrace messy hair. 

I needed to learn this recently, and I hope you do too if you share memories with strangers. 

Review: Pure At Heart by Sahana Epari

Lies. Betrayal. Secrets. They are worse than you think they are.The feeling of something you thought you had but you never did. Your whole train of thought changes direction. Suddenly everything you have lived for becomes a life you never had.
I thought I knew everything.
My name is Evaline Pangborne, and I am a werewolf.
When Eva and the Shadow Clan find out a ground-breaking secret of their life, they seek the only way out of the pain and suffering--an escape route. An escape route they got, but along with that came even more secrets, questions, and betrayal.
The people Eva trusted most, is now someone to despise and hate, and the people Eva never wanted to trust, get closer and closer to her. Living itself seems like a big joke to her. What's the big secret? And why is everyone keeping it from her?

from goodreads


I feel terrible for not reviewing this book earlier, but better late than never, right? Yeah... So, I received this book for review by the author herself, and my first impression was that this was going to be awesome. Then I started reading the first few chapters, and the many punctuation errors got on my nerves.

Sahana Epari is a debut and young author that is one of the few people I know that are published at such a young age. What I love about her writing is that she is aware of her characters. Her characters were the strong leads of the novel, and even though Eva got on my nerves more than once, I could easily distinguish Eva and her attitude towards life. There were many little jokes here and there, none that made me laugh out loud though. The dialogue was a bit stiff, and did not flow like it could be for some characters. Though, some characters talk in a distinctive way, and I liked the mash up.

Eva is arrogant and very naive. Actually, most of the pack is naive in my opinion. They are kids, but I think that because of their role in the world, they could have been more mature. They were very childish and the thought process of Eva wanted me to punch her sometimes.

One character I did love, was Victoria. Victoria reminds me of one of my friends. She is the bad-ass in the back ground that has this mysterious air around her, and I truly feel sorry for her the way she is treated by Eva, but both of them do get each other at their necks.

The paranormal world was built in a way that you slowly discover more of it as Eva does. The world is built in a full extent, but not at all majestic or grand as Divergent, or Daughter of Smoke and Bone. There were the basic werewolf vampire creature fight and it was a simple set up of a story.

I like Pure At Heart because of its simpleness and quick pace. If you are a werewolf fan, I think that you will love this story. So in the end, I will give Sahana Epari's debut novel a head moves back and forth, thumb moving towards the middle or down. (3 out of 5)

Embarrassing Book Covers

One reason why I bought an ereader was because I hated book covers of some of the books I wanted to read. That sounds shallow, I know, but people judge a book by its cover, and sometimes the cover has nothing to do with the book. So I have a list of book covers in which I am embarrassed about reading in public.

Nevermore by Kelley Creagh

Enshadowed by Kelley Creagh


An Abundance of Katherines by John Green


Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare

Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare


Sometimes I wished that it was the old days where books didn't have a cover. When the book was bound in a cloth, and then the first page was the title page. There are many more books that have very embarassing book covers, and if you know any leave a comment below. 

In My Mailbox (#13)

I bought this box set because I needed something to congratulate myself with. I have been doing many things lately, and needed to treat myself. I am a huge John Green fan, and even though this is not the special signed box set, I have his latest book The Fault in our Stars signed by him. Hopefully, I wills start Looking For Alaska at the beginning of December, because nanowrimo has stopped me from reading. 

Nanowrimo Update (#4)

Saturday: Had too much fun today, but got home and wrote!! Not very happy with what I wrote, but I did write more than the word count! Woohoo!!

Sunday: Wrote almost 1,000 after lunch, but stopped to blog. I also needed to clear my head  a bit, because my inner editor wanted to rip my own head off.

i wrote after dinner, a ton. I wrote +3,000 today. Omg, I still want to write, but I want to save it for tomorrow. So much I want to write, so much...

Monday: I think it's good to start writing from a sentence you didn't end from before. It gets you in the mood for writing, and you jump right in. I wrote quite a lot after dinner, and I feel very light and just whimsical at the moment. :D

Tuesday: I had a very long, but fun day today. Terribly tired for all i have, and nearly fell asleep doing homework. Though, I wrote, and I wrote more than 2,000 words. Wohoo! ;) I feel proud of myself...

Wednesday: I burst a blood vessel in my left hand's thumb. I am so happy that the blood did not go under my nail, because that would be truly unbearable and I'd probably be unable to type the space button with that hand. I'm am hoping to write a lot over the Thanksgiving period.

Started writing later than I should have, and did not get enough words written. I did write more than 1,000 words, so I'm proud of that. :)

Thursday: It was really tough to start writing today because I was stuffed with turkey and was beyond tired. I wrote 1,000 words anyways in the afternoon. Then I got a surge of inspiration and adrenaline that I wrote one of the best things I've written all month. Combined that, I wrote 3,000 words. I am now 7,000 words away from the 50k.

Friday: Wrote an amazing scene which I am so excited to edit, but  I can't. I have 5,000 words to go and the next time I will update you I will have won.

Nothing really to say, but if you are doing nanowrimo go hug that 50k because you are so close, and you better not give up. Also, if you have not done nanowrimo, please consider it next year, or during the nanowrimo camps over the summer. I swear, it will be amazing in the end. :D

Short Story Friday!

I am the kind of person that likes to be organized and have things planned out. That's why most of my reviews are on Tuesdays, and the Don't Quote Me meme is always on Wednesday. Then, I have my Nanowrimo Update every Saturday. I think that it's time to show you some of my writing. I am not sure how often I can do this, but I'm hoping to post a little short story or paragraph every Friday. Please send me feedback and suggestions for writing.

I wrote this short story because it was something that has been on my mind for a while. I also have a fictionpress account (Clarareads) so if you want to read anymore stories I will put them up there first.


The day was not cold when I first met Bobby. He was in the crowd where privileged rich kids wear pastel polos, and talk about basketball shoes like it’s their living. In my past two years at this same school, I never talked to Bobby. I’ve seen him around in the halls every now and then, but he was not someone I had any relation with by friends. The middle school social caste was too big of a gap for us to ask the other the time.
Bobby stood out the first time I walked into class. He had that hair that went out of style a few years back, but he still had the side swoop long straight hair. I knew nothing about Bobby, and to this day I don’t.
His eyes lingered when class started. Those blue eyes lingered for months after wards. When I would be writing something, or working on test, I would look up and notice that his face was always directed to me. Sometimes, I’d be wild enough to look at him in the eyes. Bobby, of course being his high demeanor, would not look away. His face didn't register the fact that I looked at him.
I had many hypothesis about this look he always had. My first assumption was that he wasn't really staring at me, he just happened to be looking in my direction. Though, later on I found that even when I move seats, he always stares at me. Sometimes, he would smile when he gets a chance for us to work together. I could visibly see the gears turning in his head to conjure up a plan.
The second assumption was that he was pretending to not register my movements. As if to say, it was just a one time thing that I happened to look at him. It was me who was caught staring, but everyone presumes the first stare is of nothing. I was just looking over there.
My last assumption was that he found me repulsive. I’m not a person who has a low self esteem or thinks badly of myself, but sometimes you have those days where you think you are terrible. The days when you feel like you aren’t good enough, you’re ugly, no one wants you, and just over all down in the lakes and you can barely make out the sun rays. I thought this through as a serious situation. I don’t always look my best everyday, but sometimes I feel like I can rule the world, and I hope that it comes across in my appearance. So when a guy who is much higher in the social caste is staring at a lowerlee(a slang term for people in the lower caste), I get paranoid. Since, I am the one being stared at, it gets on my nerves and you start to over think things.
There is something I should mention. Bobby has a girlfriend. His girlfriend is ‘head’ of the school. She is not the girl when during elementary school, she was the nicest person you’ve ever met. Everyone was certain that this other girl who was the nicest person you’ve ever met, would become ‘queen bee’. Bobby’s girlfriend was The Mean Girl. She was not as cruel as Regina George, but she comes pretty damn close.
So what does that mean? I have no idea. I’ve considered this factor since I heard about them dating. I’m not the kind of girl that knows all the school’s gossip. I barely ask about my friend’s love life, let alone the love lives of people I don’t know. Apparently, Bobby is only dating head girl, Alice, for her looks. For her body. Though, I trust my friends that tell me about the love lives at our school, I don’t particularly trust the people whom my friends get their information from.
Where do I stand now? I don’t know. I feel so nervous around him these days, it gets on my nerves. There was a time-still now-where I think Bobby was trying to ‘lure’ me, as if he was waiting for me to bite the bait. I think now I have bit the bait, and I feel terrible for it. As Taylor Swift’s new song says,’I knew you were trouble when you walked in.” Now, I can’t help but wonder about Bobby. I can’t help but to try to find him in the crowd where I think he will be because his posse does a revolution around him each day. I can’t help but remember the color of the jacket he wore in the morning, so I can spot him out throughout the day. I can’t help these things, and I hate myself for biting. If I could undo it, then I would.
I don’t like to be controlled by someone else. I detest the idea that someone is controlling how my life is going to turn out. So, this has gotten on my nerves for so long, it feels like a relief to write it down. It is more like something that needed to be written, and I have been giving myself excuses not to. What is there for a girl to do?
Another thought I had about Bobby, was what if he did this to a girl every class? Is this his way of making him feel better about himself? Is this his way of making sure that he will never be alone? There will always be a girl around his shoulder, and that is why I detest him. I am beyond bias at this point, and I have no right to bash him, but I don’t like him. The way he acts makes me want to run from the concentration camps, because he is higher than the commander in chief… or that’s what he thinks.
Bobby is the guy that thinks he is going to get every girl he asks. To be fully honest, if Bobby was to ask me out at this moment-in the past, or future-I would refuse. Okay, maybe not in the future depending on who he really is years from now, but definitely if it was the past or now, I would gladly be the first girl that refused Bobby.

Things To Be Grateful About Tag!

It's Thanksgiving (here in the US), and it's around that time of the year where you feel thankful, and you giveaway things. I made a list of 10 things I'm grateful for:

1. Having a blog with so many nice people that comment on it. :)

2. The amazing authors that let me read their books.

3. The internet, though I'm still hoping for free internet everywhere in the world. That would be

something I would be very grateful of.

4. Freedom to watch a lot of period dramas from the BBC online.

5. Pinterest: it's the best mind clearing website ever. It makes me feel fluffy and warm inside.

6. Living vicariously through other peoples lives, because of vlogging. (I'm not a stalker, I just
like to know about other places, and what the culture there).

7. An infinite amount of stories I have yet to read.

8. The feeling you get when you walk out your front door, and smile because you know it's going
to be an amazing day.

9. Wearing socks day in and day out.

10. Sprinkles: the ATM Cupcake shop

Those are my 10 things I'm grateful of and I would love it if you'd like to do this tag, too! It would be amazing. Anyone can do this tag, you can even leave a comment on your 10 ten. All I ask is that if you do a blog post, you say that it started from me! :) Thank you so much for everything you guys do.

Love and Hugs
Clara

Don't Quote Me (#16)

This is from one of my favorite books. btw, I won't be getting into Cassandra Clare's first series. I don't have enough love for the prequels to continue. :(

Mark Twain was a hipster...

I want to do this so badly, but I'm afraid of screwing it up. 

Breaking Dawn Part 2 Movie + the series Review

Over the weekend, I saw the newest and last Twilight movie in the saga. Now to set this review in perspective, I am a Twilight fan. I think that in a world where Twilight is a phenomenon you expect only the fans to watch the movie, and everyone else to not. I see where you're thinking, and I am a bit biased, but here are my thoughts anyways.

The acting from the actors were making me wanting to do a face palm every time they spoke. I, for some reason, did not notice this in the other movies this prominent, but there is some sucky acting in this movie. It's mostly from the Cullen family, but the Volteri and the vampires that had all came to Forks were way more interesting, and the acting was terrific. I kind of wanted to jump for joy when they introduced Alistair.

The first part of the movie was... boring. It was a happy la di da moment, and you can feel all warm inside. That wasn't what I wanted per se, but I did read the books, and they did not make me feel warm and fluffy inside. The thing is, the whole movie in my opinion is only good until the last thirty minutes of the movie. Everything else is filled with pointless mommy daughter time, discovering things that don't make sense, and in the end they live happily ever after. I think you saw that coming, because that's what most people hate about Twilight. It's because it is a happily ever after story, not a tragic ending like true vampire films/stories.

If you didn't see the movie, you are going to be for one heck of a ride at the end. The ending blew my mind a bit. If you read the books then you'll get angry like I did. I won't say why, but if you want to talk about the movie with me feel free to email me at Clarareads@gmail.com . There we can talk spoilers!! :)

As a series, I will still love it, because it got me into reading. That sounds really weird to some people, but I was not the reading girl I was before Twilight, as I am now. As I have read Twilight some good years ago, I don't see the series as I did then. Back then, I was really naive, and childish, and just soaked up all of this. The series, made me like reading, so I see it as a fall back plan when every other book in the world fails me-which will never happen. It's that book that for you might be Harry Potter, it was there from the beginning, and you thank it for that.

To answer some of the questions you might have:
No, I don't like the fact that they sparkle in the sunlight.
I don't think vampires should sparkle in the sunlight, Who does?
Can someone just do something with the whole sparkle thing? It gets distracting, why can't there blood boil under the sun? UGH!!
I hate obsessing over celebrity love lives, so I don't.
I am on Team Edward, but if Jasper didn't have Alice, totally Team Jasper.
I don't believe that Bella Swan will be a good mother.
I do sometimes wish that the series continued, but it would be redundant at the end.
I do want to slap Bella in New Moon.
*spoilerish* Of course, I think that Jacob imprinted on Renessme is strange. *spoilerish*
I wish so much that they get better special effects, but the movies are over so...

I'd love to know what you think about the newest and last movie. Leave a comment below, or if you want a full blown fan girl fest. Email me at Clarareads@gmail.com or tweet me @Clarareads

Tractable Friends

I had a tractable friend
She didn't know she was
I must have looked mundane to her
But her woes didn't trouble me then
They don't trouble me now

A few years had lost its path
I changed, she stayed the same
Did she use herself against me
I thought she was a friend
She was a tractable friend

I'm not going to continue with that awful poem, so go and hate it now. Okay, thanks for getting that out of your system. All I was trying to write is that people who change who you are can be wonderful in the moment, but when you look back on it, you see how naive you were. I was naive, and I changed how I thought because I thought someone else knew better. The thing is, no one knows better than yourself. No one has the knowledge you do. No matter the similarities or differences, you will always have something know one else has. Remember that, and don't change yourself to be like someone you think knows better, because they probably know less than you. :)

Book Trade?!?

So guys, it's around that time of the year where you kind of hoard things, and then let somethings go. I want to try something new, and start book trading. I've never done this, so hopefully I won't get scammed. If you're reading this DON'T SCAM ME!! I know where you live!!!

I want to start out with five books, and see where this goes.

Matched by Ally Condie - It's a paperback copy, and the book just wasn't for me. As much as I've read it, it is written very well, and many of my friends speak highly of it. It looks new, since I've never taken it anywhere and only read the first couple of chapters.

Legend of the Guardians:The Owls of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky - This is a hardbound Borders Exclusive I got about two years ago. It has the first three books in the series in it. The book looks new, except the paper looks a bit aged, nothing too bad. There are no spine damage and cover damage.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott - I bought this book at a local bookshop of mine for a few dollars. I don't have any plans to read it though. The condition is excellent. It's the paperback version, and the only thing that doesn't make it seem new is that I took off the sticker on the back where the price and bookstore name was.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - This is a paperback version I got at a book fair. It's in brand new condition, and nothing is damaged. I really wished I liked this novel, but I didn't. I have heard many great reviews about this series though.

Envy by Gregg Olsen - I reviewed this book on the blog a few months ago. It was not a favorite, and I could not finish the novel. The condition is in it's spotless hardback edition. The pages are still in it's pristine white pages, as when I got the book.

I am willing to be flexible on this book trade. Please contact me at Clarareads@gmail.com if you'd like to have one of these books, and leave a list of books you are willing to trade. I am biased towards young adult novels. 

In My Mailbox (#12)

Being gay in high school is not always easy, and now Kyle is having unexplained visions. His friend, Jenny, is convinced that he is psychic. When thefts occur at school, Kyle realizes that his visions may be the key to solving the crime, if only he could figure them out.

As editor of the school newspaper, Kyle almost has more on his plate than he can deal with. When the news staff tries to figure out who the thief is, personalities clash and tensions rise. But the challenges will form friendships that Kyle never would have imagined. And Kyle’s world will be changed forever.

“So I’m both gay and psychic? That’s a lot for one high school guy to handle.”

 from smashwords 

I'm so excited to read this next month. :) Sounds absolutely amazing, and a breath of fresh air in the young adult genre. 

NaNoWriMo Update (#3)

Saturday: Ate too much candy, and didn't even write as much as I should. :) Though, it was a progressive day.

Sunday: Writing after dinner and got things up and running. Writing enough words in an hour, but going to keep on going. Nanowrimo update status says I'll finish the novel a week and one day early. What!?!

Monday: Really did not want to write tonight, but did anyways. I think that it proves that you just have to do it, so write. I started out rewriting the last few paragraphs from before, just restating it in a different way, and then it went slow for a while. I'm sad to say that I did not make my 1667 words today, but I am still three days ahead, and I'm proud of that. So suck it!

Tuesday:

Wednesday: I didn't write yesterday. :( I feel so ashamed of myself, but so relaxed in a nervous kind of way. I wrote almost 2,000 words today. Btw, since I took the day off yesterday, I'm still not behind. I was planning on myself tiring out, so I was a few days ahead, and I still am. I definitely see the finish line coming up a mountain away, as I am so close to 30,000 words. :)

Thursday:
Someone please tell me that writing a five hundred word essay counts in nanowrimo. No? Ugh!

Omg! I just wrote 30,000 words in two weeks and one day. WTF?! Okay, okay. That was awesome. I got this. You got this. Keep writing, and don't stop. You're too far in to stop. So don't you dare. *shamelessly points finger at you*

Friday:

I didn't write anything on Tuesday or Friday!! :O I don't know what happened, but I think it was just life. Also school has really put me down lately. I'm so grateful that I write more than needed, and am still ahead. If you are falling behind, you can still do it!!! Please don't give up, because I want you to win. EVERYONE WANTS YOU TO WIN!! So don't give up.

Writing Quotes for NaNoWriMo

I couldn't find a lot of quotes that have been made in artistic works, but I found two posts about writing quotes which you can read here and here. 

NaNoWriMo Tag!

The Questions:
1. Is this your first year doing NaNoWriMo or have you participated before?
This is my first year doing NaNoWriMo and I've learned so much about myself that even if I don't win this year, I'm still going to do it next year. Notice the if, it's crucial.

2. How did you find out about NaNoWriMo?
I can't remember how I found it... actually I found out about it by a youtuber, Kaisa, from MaxieMagyx. Her videos are freaking amazing, and I watched her start it when she did daily vlogging in November last year.

3. Are you in it to win it, or are you just participating to have a bit of fun?
Just for fun. hahaha, yeah right! You're funny sarcastic me. So, yeah, I'm doing it to win.

4. Are you on track with your daily word count?
I am, I'm actually above the daily word count at the minute, and I've been ahead of the game since day 1.

5. Tell the readers a little bit about your novel (genre, title and short summary for example).
I changed what I'm writing about, so if you see my link for nanowrimo, that was a very rough idea what I was doing, and I've completely changed it. I won't tell you what the story is about at the moment, becuase I'm not sure where it is going. I'm one of those people that don't plan what to write, I plan when to write. That's all.

6. Has anything crazy happened yet? Have you been attacked by any plot bunnies?
Eh... not really. I've found that doing NaNoWriMo has been a little strange because my writing seems to work itself out like my dreams do. I mean, in the way that they always have connections that I have over looked, but my subconscious mind saw.

7. Do you have any real life friends who are participating?
My best friend's sister is doing it, and I don't really know her, but besides her, I don't have any "real life" friends who are participating.

8. What is your best tip for getting yourself to write and stop procrastinating?
I don't have a best tip, but I like to bribe myself with candy, or watch youtube videos. Also I usually find that writing right after I eat, is the best time to write. I've gotten so much writing done from the time I finish eating, to that hour and  a half later. So, maybe you should try that if you haven't already.

9. What is your favourite novelling snack?
I can't eat while I write. It's distracting, but on the weekends when I write in the mornings, I usually have tea.

10. Who do you tag?
I tag anyone that wants to do this, and since I think I stole this tag from the booktube community, I'm just letting the tag roam on its own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf1_heEL0_g&feature=g-u-u
The link above is where I found this tag. Go watch her NaNoWriMo vlogs;they are amazing. :D

Don't Quote Me (#15)

Review: The Forgotten by Claudia Carozza

Hazel's job at the Antioch didn't work out at all like she had planned. After a daring escape and one very risky delivery of the first baby born in years, she's still holding on to the hope of a better future. Out of the Antioch and on the run, who can Hazel turn to for help and can they really be trusted? In the second book of the Barronlands Trilogy, relationships are tested and even more secrets are revealed. Hazel tries to put the pieces together, hoping everything doesn't fall apart. Will she be able to hold it all together or will there be those who slip through the cracks?

from goodreads

I read the first novel of this series a few months back, I can't even remember when now. Ahhh! Where has 2012 gone? Anyways, I started reading The Forgotten about a week or so ago, and because I was in a reading rut, I didn't finish it until recently. Though, the novel could be read in a matter of hours.

Claudia Carozza really peaked my interest a little more in the sequel, so that was a really good improvement. I was more excited for a lot of things to come in this novel, and surprises are everywhere. Since the last novel ended in a cliff hanger, I'd say that you'll have to read about twenty pages in, an then the cliff hanger continues. The middle was lagging for me, and that's when  I usually loose interest. I skimmed some parts, and things still made sense, so that wasn't something I appreciated I can do when reading a novel.

Hazel really stepped it up a notch in this novel. I think I like her a bit more than in the first novel, because she's becoming more of herself and a strong heroine. She changes quite drastically in the novel, and if you're ready for the character development, then you'll love The Forgotten.

There are some soap opera scenes during this novel, but don't worry, it gets better, and unlike soap operas the drama ends, in a way.

This is kind of a spoiler, so if you want to be absolutely spoiler free, then skip this paragraph. Like the first novel, there is a death. I won't say who, but it's someone that is quite present in most of the novel. The death for me felt strained, and just away to kill off a character, at first. Later reading,  I did noticed that the death was for something huge for Hazel. If you liked this character a lot-I didn't- then you'd be devastated at her fast leave in the novel.

Pigeons were a huge symbol in this novel, and because of that I look at pigeons in a different way then before. Unlike thinking about them as the pesky fat birds that wander the city, I think of them as quite courageous creatures. I know that pigeons have developed a friendly term with humans, so they don't find the need to fly away when someone comes in a foot radius of them. The small birds with blue bellies I see around my town, they are cowards, in their way. I guess we're all like that at the beginning. Finding food, and then flying away when danger approaches, but Pigeons are the opposite.

All in all, to wrap things up in a nice little package, The Forgotten won't be forgotten in my mind, and some serious character battles support the novel, and the novel goes to a more violent side. Near the end, it actually gets vulgar, and that was something I didn't expect one of the characters to say. I love the story, as its world fascinates me, so I'll give The Forgotten by Claudia Carozza a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

November Wish List!

This wish list is from a three book hauls I've seen on Youtube and I chose two from each of their book hauls that I'd like. There link is at the end of each two. 

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old home town and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City - and she is pos-i-tute-ly thrilled! New York is the city of speak-easies, rent parties, shopping and movie palaces, and soon enough Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfeld girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult - also known as 'The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies'.

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of it. Even Evie's new pals - hoofers, numbers runners and activists, but all swell kids - are drawn into the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer - if he doesn't catch her first...



from goodreads

This book sounds absolutely amazing, and I hope I can read it with still doing Nanowrimo.

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.


from goodreads

This seems like another take on bullying and I really haven't read that many bully books than I 'd like. That sounds strange. I mean there are many books about bullying that I wish I can read, but I haven't gotten the time. (I'm not for bullying).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAzKUsAi5PY&feature=g-u-u

The Raven Boy by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.


from goodreads

I've heard a lot of things about this book, and I've decided that I'm going to read it after a long time of hesitation.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


from goodreads

I read the synopsis a few months ago, and I knew I was going to like it, but was saving it for a time when I wanted something light and frilly. I don't like saying that, and then forgetting it. Plus the second novel is coming out soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eie2KvjXu9o

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.


from goodreads

I heard about this book from Maureen Johnson when she was NPR in July. She spoke so highly of it, and I recently remembered it.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagwa

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for.

from goodreads

I've been told to not be deceived by the genre and premise of this, so I'm crossing my fingers that I like it.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp9p_CZCEQ8&feature=related

In My Mailbox (#11)

Having attained near total control of his Earthly elements, humanity perceives itself as a master without rival. Man ignores his roots. He forgets that he himself is part of the world.

How can we dare to challenge nature’s raw powers when we still know little about this universe?

Yes, mankind managed to survive the first Flood. Given our technological advances, we might have been able to survive this Second flood too. But, this is no mere rain. Raw fury lurks within the depths. The water which sustained life for uncountable centuries has come to wipe the slate clean. Mankind, in his once unrivaled splendor, has forced to take shelter, no different than a colony of ants during a spring shower. This is the final chapter of man, unraveling before us as we stand powerless.

But, there is a very small glimpse of hope. Daniel realizes it. He feels it. He sees it. He, his girlfriend Milena, and his friend Edward seek out the high ground as they wait for the waters to recede. However, as time passes, Daniel begins to understand that there is something strange in the water, an evil entity. He senses it - he feels it from within. Daniel knows that mankind is doomed. Evil has come with the rain. It has come for their souls.

from goodreads

Nanowrimo Update (#2)

So I kept a log of how I wrote throughout this week, and where I was in NaNoWriMo each day. I think that this week did give me a little trouble, but I got back on track, and am so happy that I'm ahead of the game


Saturday: Wrote right after lunch and it went smoothly.

Sunday: Wrote about 500 words around nine o'clock in the morning. Got into a writing block after dinner. Got it going again, but took a while. Wrote 1,763 words. On to tommorrow!

Monday: Knew that I could only write really well after dinner, so I did. Got off a good, start. Then hit a point where I just wrote anything that came to mind, and it  happened to be a very key part of the novel now. I think I love you nanowrimo. *mauh*

Tuesday: Wrote up a storm after dinner. Kind of dreaded writing in the beginning, but really enjoyed what I wrote.

Wednestday: Woke up at four in the morning, because it was the day after the election, and then wrote like a mad woman until I had to go to school. Got about 1,000 words down. Then after dinner wrote about a 1,000 more words. Really liking the way things are going, but see major plot and character wholes. Need to fill them in, pronto!

Thursday:Flushed with homework and no time. I've got to write after dinner to get today's words in, I hope I type something good in a few hours. Wrote six hundred words after dinner. I don't think I can write anymore. I'm trying to write, and have everything opened for me to just type, but I have nothing I feel passionate about, and ready to write for. Ugh! Turned off the internet and got 400 more words down. I don't think I can write anymore today.

Friday:Got home from school and got a little distracted. Then got down to writing, and got more than enough words down, but not as much as usual. Hoping to get to 20,000 words then go to bed. Wrote another chapter after dinner, and somehow wrote exactly 20,000 words. Woohoo! I like you again, NaNoWriMo.

As you see, Thursday was my bad day. I'm really glad that I started Nanowrimo. Tips that may help you that I've learned so far, is to set time for it. Don't multitask. It's very easy to get distracted when you're on the computer, so I turn off the internet, sometimes. It's a great way to just disconnect from everything, and just write. Do you know when you write best? For me it's right after I eat. I think my brain cells get all excited, and so I'm excited about my story, and then I type like a mad woman. I hope that you are having an amazing NaNoWriMo, too, and leave a comment below telling me how far you are. Good luck to everyone!!

Analytic or Fiction Writing

I love writing, and there is no hiding that. I'm very fond of reading fiction writing more than analytic writing pieces, mostly because I'm still young, and don't want to see things through analytical eyes. Though, I'm a lot better writer when I write analytic or nonfiction pieces. 

I can sit down and write probably ten writing prompts or ideas in one sit down, like I do with this blog, sometimes. I can't do that all the time with fiction. I have to have room to leave my story, and come back to it. It sounds strange to me that I can write better about things that are real, than things that aren't real. It's harder for me to write things I come up with, that  aren't real. Is that the same with you?

You always hear people telling you to write what you know. Well, I know real life, more than my imagination. Does that mean I want to write a nonfiction piece? Sometimes, I do, honestly. Though, a lot of times, I want to write about people, and stories that are make believe. I guess when I get a ton a hate or critiques on my fiction writing, I feel more adamant to write more of it, than what I'm good at.

All I'm saying is that I love writing what I'm not good at. How about you? 

Quotes: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

I forgot to write the quotes I highlighted while reading Wintergirls in my review, and I have a lot so I think I'll just tell you all of them. Some of these quotes might be spoilers, it depends on how you look at them. :)

pg. 14 "We were secret sisters with a plan for world domination, potential bubbling around is like champagne."

pg. 18 "...body found in a motel room, alone..."

pg. 21. "The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco..."

pg. 31 "The nurse who handed out meds was so fat her skin was stretched tight. If she moved too fast, it would rip open and her yellow stuffing would spill out, ruining her Disney World sweat shirt."

pg. 49 "Her voice is sticky, like lipstick bled on her tongue."

pg. 67 "It screws up the laws of physics for her to occupy the same room as the first wife."

pg. 89 "We held hands when we walked down the gingerbread path into the forest, blood dripping from out fingers. We danced with witches and kissed monsters. We turned us into wintergirls, and when she tried to leave, I pulled her back into the snow because I was afraid to be alone."

pg. 103 "I place the phone itself under the left rear tire and drive back and forth over it thirty-three times."

pg. 143 "I throw off the blanket and stand up. 'This is stupid. You're gong to lecture me and boss me around, I'm going to yell back, it'll be like always. We can't even pretend to get along. I'm out of here.'"

pg. 180 "She wipes a snowflake off my cheek. "You're not dead, but you're not alive either. You're a wintergirl, Lia-Lia, caught in between the worlds. You're a ghost with a beating heart. Soon you'll cross the border and be with me. I'm so stoked. I miss you wicked."

pg. 184 "'Anemia,' she says. 'Plus low blood sugar, low phosphates, low calcium, low T3-don't know what that means-high white blood cells, low platelets. They sewed you up with black threads, thirty-three stitches, isn't that weird? Oh, and you have ketones in your pee. Keep this up and we'll do New Year's together. Stay strong, sweetie."

pg. 194 "I am dying to know how much I weigh. There are no scales here and they wouldn't tell me at the hospital. They stuck so much goo into me, I bet I put on ten pounds. My skin itches from the new fat. It's going to split and peel off me. Melissa gives me skin cream and watches while I rub it on my arms and legs."

pg. 200 "Oh, Go. Oh, God. I am on top of the highest mountain. The icy ground is shaking, an earthquake, the world beneath me opening up with fire, steel arms ready to pull me down.

I have to move. I can't stay here anymore.

I throw myself down the mountain and open my mouth."

pg. 203 "'I believe that you've created a metaphorical universe in which you can express your darkest fears. In one aspect, yes, I believe in ghosts, but we create them. We haunt ourselves, and sometimes we do such a good job, we lose track of reality.'"

pg. 204 "One day the wind will carry them off. Nobody will notice."

Don't Quote Me (#14)

I'm sorry if I ever repeat any of these quotes, I don't back then up or anything.

I love it when I find things out that are right there, but my eyes could never see it.

I think that speaks for itself.

Tree's are beautiful, but I'd go no where if I was like one.

When I laugh, it's always when I'm carefree, including without fear of the future.

Is there anymore reason to love John Lennon?

Sometimes, people say that they don't have the time to do whatever, but Nightingale is right, time is going to pass anyway.