Top Ten Tuesday (13)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books On Our Spring TBR List

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I am currently a little over half way through with this book and I really love it!!

2. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

The cover of this book is absolutely breathtaking and plus I heard that it was a high-fantasy, which I love, so I cannot wait to read it!!

3. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

I have heard great things about this book and I think that I am going to enjoy it a lot, so pretty excited.

4. The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

I loved the Heir Chronicles by her so I want to start this series ASAP.

5. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

My friend let me borrow this book and said that I would enjoy it so I am definitely looking forward to reading it soon.

6. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

I loved the Mortal Instruments Series as well as Clockwork Angel so I really want to read this book in the very near future.

7. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

This is a part of my Top 100 Classic Book Reading Resolution and I have read it before and loved it; so I can't wait to read it again!

8. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

I got this book for Christmas but I haven't gotten around to reading it because I want to reread the series because I haven't read any of them since Brisingr came out so I just want to refresh my memory first.

9. Shine by Lauren Myracle

I've heard some great things about this so I really cannot wait to read this book.

10. Graceling by Kristen Cashore

I have heard some awesome things about this book as well and plus it's a high-fantasy as well, so I really want to read it soon!

<3 Shannon

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, from the bookstore, or from trades.

Books Bought:

-But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

-Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

-Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

-Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

-Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

-Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Book Recieved:

-Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler (from The DAC ARC Tour) 

<3 Shannon

March TBR 2012

Books Read in February 2012:
-Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
-Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
-Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
-But I Love Him by Amanda Grace
-Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Books Going to be Read in March 2012:
-Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
-Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
-Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
-Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
-The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
-To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

<3 Shannon

Top 100 Classic Books Reading Resolution

One of resolutions for 2012 was to read more classic books, so I have compiled a list of the Top 100 Classic Books. The way that I have come up with this list is that I looked at multiple lists and picked the books that showed up the most. The books are in no particular order, I just wrote them down as I determined that they should be on my list. 

I don't plan to be able to read all of these books in one year but I hope to be able to start on it and continue it. I will either review them here on my blog or make a video about it on my YouTube channel, which ever I feel like at the moment!

 If you would like to participate along with me that would be great!! In the month of  March I am planning to read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Let me know in the comments and if I get enough interest I might put up a discussion post at the end of the month/when the books are finished.

To see the full list and where I will be keeping track of my progress click here.

<3 Shannon

Top Ten Tuesday (12) + Tune In Tuesday (8)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Would Save From A Natural Disaster

1. Harry Potter Series by J.k. Rowling

I would never be able to part with these books! I've had them since 3rd/4th grade (and you can tell it too). These would probably be one of the first things that I would grab.

2. All My Ellen Hopkins Books

I love her books and I have a few of them signed so I would be able to part with these either.

3. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

This was one of the first books that really got me back into reading in high school; because in middle school I didn't have a good selection so I kind of slacked off but this book brought me back in. Also Wes is in the number one spot on my fictional character crush list!!

4. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

I read this book in high school and I loved it! It quickly became one of my favorite books and now all I need to do is read Lord of the Rings 1-3.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This book is probably my favorite "classic" book! I absolutely adore it and I would not be able to leave this book behind.

6. The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

This is one of my favorite book series from when I was in middle school and I have read them over and over so many times!

7. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

This book was a recent purchase and I didn't expect to love it as much as I did but now I could not possibly bear to leave it behind. Plus it's signed!!!

8. The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld

This series is one of my favorites and I absolutely love it.

9. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

This book quickly became one of my favorites in a very short amount of time, so I wouldn't be able to leave it behind either. Plus, need I say anything other than: Cricket!! <3

10. Any Other Signed Book on My Book Shelf

I have a couple of other signed books on my book shelf that I definitely would not be able to part with, so I would be grabbing those as well.

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

Tighten Up by The Black Keys

Boston by Augustana

Ain't No Reason by Brett Dennen

Happy Tuesday! Oh and I have 50 Followers!! Yay!

<3 Shannon

February TBR 2012

Books Read in January 2012:
- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
-Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
-Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
-The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

Books Going to be Read in February 2012:
-Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
-The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
-Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
-Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
-Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
-The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein

<3 Shannon

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

• Reading Level: Young Adult 
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile 
• ISBN-10: 052542381 
• ISBN-13: 978-0525423487
• Received From: I bought it.

From Goodreads:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion... she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. 

My Thoughts:

This books seems to be so great because, to me, the characters are phenomenal! They all really come together and make this book truly wonderful.

Lola is a really flawed/human character. She makes mistakes, is a little bit of a compulsive liar, and is a little selfish as well but she doesn't do it with any malicious intent. I really LOVE Cricket! He is one of the most unique love interests that I have read in YA, this far. His character is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the male love interests. It seems that in most books that you pick up, you will probably find a loner/mysterious/moody/brooding love interest and I'm getting kind of tired of it. Cricket is sweet, the boy next door, and realistic. He wins you over with his charm and how genuinely nice his character is. I cannot say enough good things things about his character!

I wish Calliope's character would have been in the book a little more. I found her character to be very fascinating. I also found Calliope and Cricket's relationship very interesting as well. I would have loved to have been able to learn a little more about their dynamic and how they interacted with each other. However, I didn't really get Calliope and Max as the "villains/antagonist" at all. I didn't hate or wish harm to either of them and their reactions seemed very normal to me.

Usually in books there seems to be a lack of good best friends and parents who are actually aware of what their children are doing but, not in this book. Lola's best friend is great and very loyal to her as well. Lola's parents are also very aware of what she is doing most of the time. When they didn't approve of her boyfriend, Max, they made her bring him over for brunch every Sunday and she had to check-in whenever she was out with him. So you cannot say that Lola's parent's weren't a part of her life because they grounded her quite a lot for disobeying the rules.

I absolutely LOVE this book! It is amazing and I recommend it to just about anyone! It has moved up to my second favorite Contemporary book on my list. Cricked is, also, definitely on my fictional character crush list as well! SA-WOON! ;) Oh, Anna and St. Clair are also characters in this book, so that is definitely a plus! I have nothing but praise for this book and I'm giving it 5 Quills! So go out to your nearest book store and buy it!!

<3 Shannon