Post First Draft Depression

I want to start off with a little editing series going on on this blog. Since, I did do nanowrimo and won-yeah, I'm awesome-I want to blog about the process of how things are going. At the moment I can't give you a synopsis of the novel, because there is a lot of plot being moved around, and maybe the main problem the main character faces is only a side problem. You know?

Anyways, the first thing that happened when I finished nanowrimo about two weeks ago was that I just wanted to chuck the story out the window and feed it to the coyotes. I suppose many authors feel this way, because we have been so close to this piece of work, that it's too much. I was about to scrap the entire document at one point. Terrible of me for not believing in my own writing, but sometimes you want to kill someone, but instead of someone, many people in your mind.

The other day I got out of this 'depression' stage. Something just clicked in my mind, and I guess with me going back into the community of writers I've found, it motivates me to do something with the story. I have not started actually editing the novel, but I am in the process of reestablishing my characters, and where I want the story to go, and where it should be going. There's a difference. I'm happy with half of the characters I had made up on the spot while writing nanowrimo, but in there are the ugly ducklings. The ones that don't have a personality easy to spot out, or a background that's bland and contains no meat.

So if you are in the post first draft depression state, I beg you to not chuck out your story. You are going to hate yourself if you do, because you will look back at it and think I should not have done that. Especially, if you did nanowrimo and got far ahead. Do not change your mind and free up space on your computer. There is a reason why you started to write the story. Whether you knew what you wanted to come across in your writing or not, it will come across, and you need to edit and think about it to do so.

Great chat with yall today, have an amazing time writing this week. If you have trouble thinking of things to write-which you should be doing everyday-I'm going to start making daily writing prompts on twitter. @Clarareads

Love and hugs
Clara

Author Interview: Sahana Epari

Last week, I review Sahana Epari's debut novel, Pure at Heart. I was lucky enough to also have the chance to ask her some questions for an interview:

How did you come up with the concept for Pure at Heart?

I don't really remember. I guess I was just in that phase where I was obsessing over urban fantasy and paranormal novels. I still am :) Anyways, I guess the supernatural being that got to me the most was the werewolf. No matter what book I read, if there was a werewolf in it, the character would automatically be my favorite. As for the plot itself, it took a while to come up with something that I would read myself. Pure at Heart is basically everything I, as a person, would want in a book.


What was the toughest part of writing the novel?

The toughest part would be the conclusion. To be truthful, when I started, I wasn't completely sure I wanted a sequel. I was thinking I could write maybe one of those single novels. Then, I realized that it would be a really big book, because there were so many things I wanted to introduce. The conclusion of Pure at Heart was hard to write because I had to conclude things, but leave a lot of room for questions. I wanted the readers to think, "What happens next?" and want to read the next book.


Is there anything you would want to change about Pure at Heart?

I actually like it the way it is. I elaborated the characters enough, the plot, the setting. Everything is the way I need it to be. If I did have the chance, however, I would want to be a little more descriptive in some scenes.


Who is your favorite author?

Cassandra Clare.

What is your favorite book(s)?

City of Bones, or the Mortal Instruments series.

Many authors tell aspiring young writers to wait until they are older to publish because they haven't lived much and their writing is great for their age, but don't compare to older authors. What do you say about that topic?

I completely disagree. Now that there are self-publishing companies, like CreateSpace, it allows anyone to publish anything they want. Everyone knows that young authors are still growing, and haven't experienced a lot, but that makes it all the better. There's a surprise when you read a really good book, and then discover that it wasn't an adult who wrote it but a young person. Yes, novels written by young authors like myself, shouldn't be compared to books written by older, more experienced, and more educated adults. However, that shouldn't be a restriction to publish something.

What can you tell us about the sequel to Pure at Heart?

It will continue a few days after the end of Pure at Heart. I haven't really decided on the name yet, but it will definitely summarize the novel. I'm hoping to add a big surprise, so hold on. Not sure about the release date as of now.



Where can readers contact you?
  You can go to my blog:

evalineandthepack.blogspot.com

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)

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

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."

If I Didn't Have A Book Blog.

Since, Hurricane Sandy is coming up the eastern sea board and I am on that side of the country (no I won't tell you where I live, stalkers) I've been trying to come up with ideas of what I can do, without the internet. Most of the things I do everyday revolves around the internet. I watch my "television" on there, but I actually just watch youtubers. I read news articles, instead of watching the news. I do research on the internet, instead of going to the library. I'm a book blogger and that got me thinking, that if I didn't start this, what would I be doing?

Well the obvious answer would be I'll still be in school. I'd still have friends, and still have the internet. Though if I didn't have this blog, I wouldn't be as happy as I am most of the time. I wouldn't get random wonderful comments from strangers that make my day, and wouldn't know some amazing people, I'd never would have otherwise. I don't like to jinx things, but I've never got a "bad" comment before, or a "mean" comment. I'm so lucky, and fortunate that I'm not cyberbullied, but I know there are many people out there that have a face on the internet, and are constantly criticized. I know that if I keep continuing this, and it gets bigger, then I'd get those "mean" comments. It's just a fact that not everyone will like you in life. I've learned to except that.

I'm most likely going to go into a lecture now... When you come across someone online, there will be people you won't like and disagree with. I've found some of those people, and right when I know that I won't like them, I move away. I look away. I unfollow them, unsubscribe, exit out, anything that will remove me from someone I dislike. That being said, you can't do that in real life, most of the time. So, be grateful that the internet allows you to do that. If you haven't removed yourself from that situation(or maybe more than on situation), you should immediately.

I think that I'm fairly informed in bullying and cyberbullying. I've seen many things online that are as rude, as stealing your best friend's cat, and leaving it out in the middle of the highway. I, myself, have been bullied for a brief amount of time, and it was nothing serious, but bullying hurts.  My feelings are here for you to read, and I'm vulnerable, so all I ask is that if you dislike me or don't agree with what I say, practice the act of removing yourself from the possibility of you bullying someone.

I never mean to lecture anyone when I write these, but sometimes I have to say these things because they mean so much to me, and I want to share them with y'all. If you didn't know, I love you guys with all of the support you give, and opportunities. It's an ego booster, hahaha. No, but really, I am more confident in myself and not wanting to hide things that I love because of this blog. Thank you for that. If I didn't have a book blog I'll be more susceptible to self-harm, and so much more that I see friends of mine go through, that don't have an outlet like this. Thanks again, and I hope this wasn't cheesy. 

Love and Hugs
Clara

Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick GIVEAWAY!

 I'm doing a giveaway for Ilsa J. Bick's second novel in her Ashes Trilogy, Shadows. I personally love the book, but should have read Ashes before I read the second novel. If you'd like to be submitted in the giveaway details below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Over editing?

I've been writing a lot lately. Not on the blog as you've noticed, but personally, and I have edited a lot. I want to say too much, but I know that everyone is going to say that you can never edit too much. You can always find a way to improve your work.For me, when I edit something  a lot, it gets boring and I hate rereading something sooooo many times. It makes me go kind of insane. That's probably why they say you should always look at things with new eyes, everyone in a while.

I can't remember a time that that worked. After a while of editing, I get numb with all those corrections and my mind is saying,"Too much. Too much.... need.... coffee...... or a book..... please?" Does that happen to you?

Since I am doing Nanowrimo this year, I hope that will make me look at writing and editing differently, because I will not be editing while writing nanowrimo. I write quite slow, and that will never work if I did edit like I would. That hopefully, will give me a new way of writing something without getting bored about it.

If you're doing nanowrimo this year, please tweet me @Clarareads, it would dearly help me if I have some encouragement, and of course I will reciprocate.

P.S. I'm not editing this post, so excuse my grammar. 

Review: Hotblood by Juliann Whicker

Hotblood by Juliann Whicker lingers in my mind and I hope I don't forget the wonderful and magical characters. All 298 pages have made me felt pain, sorrow, hope, and giddy in all then less than 24 hours. I can tell you I spent the night reading through morning, and I don't regret it. When I found out about this novel, I thought that it was just another paranormal romance, cheesy, not really well thought out, and a fairy tale sort of charm to it. Boy was I wrong! This novel was nothing that I expected, and something more, I dare say.               

Juliann Whicker's writing made me really happy reading whatever she wrote. The way she wrote the novel just flowed smoothly and realistically on the screen in my mind. I read that I should be open minded about this novel, and I didn't have to because it opened my mind for me without me noticing. Weird, right? I loved and hated the different point of views from the two main characters. I love how the author created this whole different paranormal aspect of what we expect from today's young adult novels. I honestly loved the dark, and deathly frighting scenes and couldn't get enough. 

 Dari, or Dariana was a very interesting main protagonist from the get-go. She didn't bore me, or maybe because of the wide span of lovable characters made it seem so. I can't say this to every novel, maybe The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, but Hotblood in particular I had no problems with any characters. I love all of them "good" and "bad". They all contributed something, and had a soul of there own. I of course love Lewis with all of his faults and mystery that shrouds the outcome of the novel. I don't think there could be a more enjoyable love interest for Dari.

Review: The Twenty by Claudia Carozza

Novel: Amazon Goodreads
Author: Website Twitter Goodreads


The Twenty is an interesting book that I decided to read because it takes place in a dystopian world where there had an epidemic that wiped out all the humans. Then comes along a new government where you are ranked by which ward you reside in. The farthest ward you are from First City the less and less power the government has control of you and if they even care at all. The Twenty is about a group of twenty women who are pregnant during a time where it's very rare, and crying babies would stir a whole ward. So then comes along Hazel DeSales and she finds a job working for the government which she knows is corrupt, but when her drunken father's paychecks are coming in smaller and longer amounts of time she has to give somethings up to live. Hazel becomes a nurse for one of the Twenty and hears things she shouldn't when Hazel is in the shadows. 

I really liked this idea when I first read the summary because it was different from all the other dystopian books that are out there. Claudia Carozza's writing was very simple, but what I really loved about the novel is because she keeps a good pace and makes me be on the edge of my seat, constantly. I also love how she built up the world. Having certain things that seem mundane to us, feel like an alien to the people in this world. I think, unlike most dystopian novels there isn't much technology advancement in The Twenty. In my mind when I think of the wards that people live in other than 8, I think of a ghost town, or a very unkempt town. I still what to know what First City and ward 8 really look like. 

Hazel DeSales is the female protagonist and she has some boy problems amongst many others. I could just feel the love triangle as soon as Shane came into the novel. Btw I'm on team Shane, if there is a team. I personally don't like Luka. My first impression of him was, "He's going to betray them." That was a very harsh thing to assume, but honestly I haven't warmed up to him and from the looks of where things going I feel like he's going to be the one. There were some characters that I have a lot of faith in. For example, Elisa Montgomery one of the Twenty whom Hazel nurses throughout her pregnancy. Elisa to me is a very strong character and I think if she wasn't pregnant and she had another role in the novel she'd kick butt. The "bad guys" didn't scare me honestly. They didn't make me think, "Well, this is going to be very very bad," or something along those lines. Yes, there are somethings that are kind of spoilers that are sins, but I don't see why they are doing the things that they are. The government is very secretive and I really want to know what they are going to do with the babies of the Twenty because it seems like something big is going to occur.

The Twenty for me, was a very quick summer read and if I had time probably could finish in a day or some hours. The novel has a very fast pace, and the scenery isn't too advance that I'm constantly wondering and daydreaming about the wards and the buildings.

I feel like this sort of story could happen in some way. I don't know how and why, but there seems to be a truth in it. I really love how Claudia Carozza didn't particularly shy away from unpleasing things because that's how the world that Hazel lives in is. Where the police don't care, and the crack heads are everywhere.

I am defo going to read the second book in the trilogy when it comes out and I want to check out Claudia Carozza's upcoming new series coming later this year. I'm very excited about the next The Twenty novel because this one leaves off with a huge cliff hanger, which I really wanted to be resolved in this novel because we all saw it coming. So, in conclusion I give Claudia Carozza's debut dystopian novel a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

Review: Dragon Fire by Pedro L. Alvarez

I was very interested in a new world to explore the past week and I found this in an ARR program. Pedro L. Alvarez is a debut author that I think we should all keep an eye on. The story he lays out for the reader is amazingly detailed and well thought out. Dragon Fire is a mixture to me of a coming of age/romance/dystopian like world. 

If there is not enough reason that you should get a bow and arrow well here's another book. Lately that's been the trend I've found. For example, Faelorehn by Jenna Elizabeth Jonhson, The Hunger Games Trilogy, and a few weeks ago I saw Brave form Pixar. Not that I don't have anything against bows and arrows but I wanted something different. Maybe something new and unheard of.

Pedro L. Alvarez has the most beautiful way of telling a story that amazed me while I was reading. Though his writing isn't filled with complications making me re-read constantly, it had an old timey feel. I felt very sucked into this world he created and the characters that joined in. I don't know how to say this because this is a very tricky review for me to write. I love his writing, but the story didn't make me want to read more. I really wanted to like this but I couldn't. It's not bad or anything, but I just could not go into another coming of age story. The genre is incredibly gigantic and I did not feel like anything was special.

Books I've Started and Haven't Finished, Yet

So I've been swamped with reading lately and all the books that I've bought in the past few months have been on the shelf and waiting to be picked up again:(. I just wanted to share with y'all the books and hopefully you can encourage me into reading them again or reminding me. Tweet me on twitter @Clarareads, email me Clarareads@gmail.com, or comment below!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
pg. 58 out of 387 (15%)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
pg. 11 out of 310 (4%)

Matched by Ally Condie
pg. 76 out of 366 (21%)

Liebster Blog Award Continued?

Well I have been tagged numerous times for the Liebster Award and I haven't answered the eleven questions back for a while. To check out the first time I was tagged click here.


Tagged from Captivated Reading Questions:

1. What do you keep reading and going back to over and over again?
Embarassingly the whole Twilight series.
2. In school were/are you a Cliffnotes person, or did you ALWAYS read the required reading?
Sometimes cliffnotes if I don't have time.
3. What else do you love, besides books?
Music
4. What's your favorite book COVER?
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
5. What book would you love, more than anything, to be seen turned into a movie?
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh, if they stay true to it.
6. How long have you been blogging?
A little more than half a year.:)
7. Do you like to write, as well as, read?
I love to write, anything, and everything.
8. What's the first novel that you can remember reading?

Review: Traveling for the Hell of it by Nick Gerrard

As I read this I kind of knew what I was getting into. I thought I knew what this was all about. Just some random person writing about his travels and his witty and hilarious commentary in between. I got what I thought. I wouldn't say there was anything that really surprised me. I love to travel and sometimes you can't and you live through someone else. That was nice, but I think all travel books are like that. Then again, I shouldn't say that because this is the first of I hope many books about traveling.
I love how Nick Gerrard didn't just say his experiences and made that the main goal. It felt more like an old friend was telling you about his travels and conversing with you. It was easy going and nothing too serious and I think this book came just in time for me, when I was reading a lot of long and well thought out intricate plot twists and I just needed a quick summer read.

I can't say much without giving away a story that should be read from him and not badly explained from me. Though, I did love how he explained the people he met. It was refreshing. This is quite a short review because I don't know what else to say, but if you are looking for an easy read for the summer and you want to experience many places in a hilariously witty way then I think you should read Traveling for the Hell of it. That's why I give Nick Gerrard's travel book though not a guide book a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

Review: Flying Lessons by Natalie Cooper

This is my very first short story review and I'm very excited and worried at the same time because this is a first and I'm afraid the review might be too short. Though, I love challenging myself, you have to fall before you can fly.:)

Natalie Cooper's writing is nothing spectacular I have to say, but she made me care about a character in only nine pages. That takes some skill, right? Her writing didn't include any showing off vocabulary that sometimes I love in authors, but I'm glad she didn't. She made the story easy to follow and made you want to know what was going to happen. Cooper didn't go out and say what was happening which I like. The one quote that I really loved that she wrote in Flying Lessons was," I was alone, like a single sailor looking out onto a vast ocean. Except my sea was not one of waves, but made up of people-each one staring at me, waiting for me to speak." I'm not sure why I love that quote but I do, and I feel like that sometimes when I have to give speeches in class. I feel like Natalie Cooper writes in a very personal place with outstanding details that many can relate to.

I love the characters, especially Mom Mom. I don't know. Maybe it's her personality. Maybe it's the feeling you get that you're grandmother is just like her. Maybe it's the specialty that made my eyes prick near the end.

Playlist: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

So I had a better timeish finding songs for the second installment in the series, but there is still not as much as other playlists I've done. I hope you like this playlist and please leave a comment for a song you think I should add.

Here's the link:


Simple Song by Better Than Ezra
For Will's overcoming his faults

Breathless by Better Than Ezra
I imagined what Tessa would say to Will if she could

Tightrope by Walk The Moon
"Easy now with my heart" I think Tessa should take that advice w/ Jem & Will :)

Lost Kitten by Metric
Tessa:" I can't say no" to Jem

Jessica by Regina Spektor
"Jessica, wake up" should be for Will when he got high

Portions For Foxes by Rilo Kiley (covered by Cara Salimando)
There's a probability that they are all doomed;)

Here's to Goodbye by Cara Salimando
"Kill the lights because it's all over"

Liebster Blog Award Tag!

Hi guys, so yesterday I was tagged for the Liebster Blog Award Tag and I was so excited I did the whole tag last night!! Here is the link where I was directed to to do this tag!
So without further adieu here is the tag I was tagged with! :)


11 Facts about ME:
1. I can play the piano, guitar, and ukulele.
2. I love fashion and going shopping!
3. I read because I love to, not because I have to.
4. I'm a night owl that reads during ungodly hours.
5. I suck at riding a bike.
6. I am a nerdfighter.
7. I am a grandmother of seven baby fish.
8. I can't say the alphebet backwards.
9. My favorite book is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
10. I've balled my eyes out because of a book.
11. I have a rude amount of to be read books.

Questions I was tagged with:
1. What do you love most about blogging?
I love that I can blog anything, and people can read it or not. I especially love when people comment!:)
2. What is your favorite book cover?
My favorite book cover has to be The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.
3. Dust jacket or no?
No dust jacket
4. Who's your favorite author?
John Green
5. What's a song you find goes perfectly with a book? Which book?
I think Let's Kill Tonight by Panic! at the Disco is the best song I can think of when I read and think of Divergent by Veronica Roth because the book was very fast paced and this song goes perfectly with it.
6. texting/talking/or video chatting?
Texting
7. Do you pre-plan your blog posts?
Yes, most of the time.
8. Favorite color and why?
Orange because I love sunsets and its not many people's favorite color.
9. Do you except ARC's? If so what's your favorite thing about that? ie. reading/reviewing/recieving
I've never recieved an ARC! ;( Though I'd love to, I imagine reading is probably my favorite part.
10. Do you have a Goodreads account? If so what is the best thing about that program in your eyes?
I do have a goodreads account (Clara Naomi) and the groups are my favorite part because I love all the discussions.
11. What's your favorite number? Does it have anything to do with a book?
I'm not sure if this counts as a number, but 0 is my favorite because if you've read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, you'll know what I mean. :)

Questions I've tagged you with:
1. When did you start book blogging?
2. Hardback or Paperback?
3. One book you regret buying/reading?
4. Do you have a reading ritual? If so what?
5. What is the longest book you've ever read?
6. What is the shortest book you've ever read?
7. How often do you read?
8. Physical book or ebook?
9. Favorite dessert?
10. Book you can't live without?
11. What was the last book you read?

People I tag:
1. A Book Without Pages
2. YA Book Season
3. Book Overdose
4. Book Addict
5. Milena's Book Corner
6. A Slice of Amz Life
7. 1600 Words a Day 
8. Reading by Kindle Light 
9. book fever
10. 365 Books A Year 
11. Izzy's Book Blog 

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Book: Website Goodreads Amazon

Author: Website Blog Twitter Goodreads

So I borrowed this book from my library back in November I think and it was huge back then, and I guess it still is. Hush, Hush is one of those overly hyped up books of last year (2011). It had everything going for it, the cover, the publisher, and some arc readers. Then it came out to the general public and then came the mixed reviews. Some bloggers I read adore the series and the first book, some of them despise it, and some of them just don't know. I think I'm on the fence of despising the book and just don't know because it was just... strange.

Like the bulk of young adult novels these years Hush, Hush is a paranormal romance, and from the cover of it, it's pretty easy to tell the paranormal part are angels. Becca Fitzpatrick didn't have a distinct writing style you could point out and her word choices were just plain ol' simple. Nothing lavish or intricate, just average. The book was quite short, or maybe I just read it quick because of how simple the writing was. Btw I read it in a day. I spent a whole school's day holiday off reading that book. I'm not spiteful of it, but I'm not glad about it either.

Playlist: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

This novel was kind of tough to find songs for, but I really think that this novel needed its own playlist. It deserves it, personally I love all these songs and if you have any suggestion for another novel to do a playlist for please leave a comment below.

Here is the link where you can listen to all the songs. I could not find Show you How by The Killers for the playlist so you can just google that song if you are really interested.


Show You How by The Killer
"we were better alone"

Are We There Yet by Ingrid Michaelson
"I guess I haven't found my home"

Innocent by Taylor Swift
"Lost your balance on a tight rope"

Fading Lately by Katie Costello
For the club scene

Review: Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Book: Amazon Website Goodreads

Author: Website Goodreads

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson was a surprising read for me. I read it only because I had to find a book in the library for English class. It was an interesting read indeed and very opposite of what I thought the novel was about. Catalyst is a contemporary read and Laurie Halse Anderson surprised me once again with this book. I was never sure what I was getting into when I read this book, but it made me think huh at the end.

I've seen and read some of Anderson's interviews before and noticed that she put a lot of herself in this book. For example, she was the priest's daughter in town. Laurie Halse Anderson still makes me want to read even though the story is some what normal. I think that because you think that it's kind of normal on the surface if I told you what it was really about, but when you read Kate you see all her different sides and all the different sides of the people around her.