Friday, December 31, 2010

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #15: Create a Cover


For the 15th Activity we were asked to do the following:

1 – Go to “Fake Name Generator” or click http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/

The name that appears is your author name.
2 – Go to “Random Word Generator” or clickhttp://www.websitestyle.com/parser/randomword.shtml
The word listed under “Random Verb” is your title.
3 – Go to “FlickrCC” or click http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php
Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.
4 – Use Picnik, or something similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.


5 - Link your Book Cover using Mr. Linky
.
In terms of the activity for the Reading Challenge, I’m asking the participants to create the cover and write a short synopsis to go along with it. 

My Book Cover:
Summary:

"Life at South Borne Highschool was rough and even worse for Scarlet Johnson who is constantly been bullied because of her unique blend of beauty and brains every one is jealous about. Her records have always been clean. Never in detention, Never fighting, and nothing but straight As and praises from her teachers.

When the bullying led to her outburst during one of her favorite classes she was dismissed and was sent to detention for the first time in her life.

Little did she know that detention wasn't the usual bad boy hangout, but a gathering of the bullied to get back at those who provoked their dismissal. While working a long side her fellow victims, Scar is being pursued by the schools loner and bad boy, Leon Wright, who is the leader of this little army of the bullied.

Will she risk her perfect reputation to allow Leo into her life? or will she ignore what she feels and deny his come ons?"

^____^

Thursday, December 30, 2010

New Years Resolutions Book Style!


This is sort of a meme/list kind of thing started by Melissa at My world... in words and pages. I kind of edited the picture a little to suit my layout. Hope you don't mind. Anyways, My New Years Resolutions bookish style are the following.

#1 - Shorten my TBR pile, lately, I've been adding more and more books into my TBR pile without actually buying and reading those books and also the pile that's actually left unread on my shelves. I have a bunch that really need to be read. Hopefully, I can find a challenge that'll help me read and finish all the classics that sit idle on my shelves.

#2 - Write more reviews, hopefully, next year I'll get to write more reviews on books in various different genres. If I manage to actually go through other genres other than historical and YA. My list of Reviews.

#3 - Comment more, I feel like I've been neglecting some of the great blogs by just passing by and not actually commenting. I should comment more!

#4 - Join Challenges, Challenges always help build motivation and finish all the things that need to be finished like the idle books on my shelves! I can't wait to get started on some of the challenges everyone has lined up in the blogmosphere! My Challenges can be found here.

#5 - Read more YA, I made this blog especially for the genre YA. So, I can't wait to start reading more YA based books!

Totally Random Thursday : Goodreads Rankings

 

A meme hosted by Semicrazed!
 



So, I was on Goodreads earlier this week to mark Blood Promise as read, then went to my profile shortly after and realized I was ranked #1 reviewer,  #1 reader and #10 top user in Bahrain. I'm not exactly shocked since not many people in this country is very fond of books let alone using the internet unless they're foreigners or half foreigners but its nice to be #1 once in awhile. :D haha.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #14: My Top 10 books of 2010


I was trying to avoid showing off my Top 10 because unfortunately I don't really have a top 10. So for this Holiday Break Reading Challenge. I'll try to put in my fav 10 books I read out of 29 books this year. Wish me luck! (#1 being my ultimate fav)

#10 - Captivate by Carrie Jones (I know what you guys are thinking! now hush)




Goodreads Summary

#9 - Misguided Angel by Melissa De la Cruz 



Goodreads Summary
My Review

#8 - A Fine Passion (Bastion #4) by Stephanie Laurens


 

Goodreads Summary



#7 - To Distraction (Bastion #5) by Stephanie Laurens




Goodreads Summary

#6 - Mastered By Love (Bastion Club #8) by Stephanie Laurens




Goodreads Summary

#5 The Untamed Bride (Black Cobra Quartet #1) by Stephanie Laurens





Goodreads Summary

#4 - Hunted (House of Night #5) by P.C. & Kristin Cast





Goodreads Summary

#3 - Burned (House of Night #7) by P.C. & Kristin Cast




Goodreads Summary

#2 - Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead





Goodreads Summary
My Review


#1 - Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead



Goodreads Summary 
My Review

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Busting the Newbie Blues


I'm a new in the book blogger community so I decided to join this event! Click the button above for more information.

When did you start your blog?
5th December, 2010

Why did you start your blog? 
I thought it would be fun to start a book blog. I've been following a few book blogs for awhile and saw many fun stuff they do besides read great YA books. There were memes and challenges involved and of course the reviewing. It all seemed like fun so I started one too. 

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
I think my biggest challenge is actually writing a review while leaving out some spoilers. Its challenging. But the more I wrote the easier it gets.

What do you find most discouraging about being a new blogger?
The lack of followers and comments. Sometimes its very discouraging to be aware that some posts are left unread with no feedback what so ever. Feedback is always what keeps me going.

What do you find most encouraging? 
The feedback of course. Whenever someone new follows me and comments. I get really encouraged.

What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog? 
I love how easy some blogs are to read because of their layouts and how uncluttered they looked. I try to keep everything on my blog clean and clutter free.

What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this?
Some blogs look very cluttered and is very hard to actually read it because their layout is confusing and there's text everywhere. I try my best to avoid that. 

Any advice for other new bloggers? 
If you're having a hard time starting out. Use other blogs as an example for your own. It'll help you to lay a foundation.

Anything else you’d like to share about your experience? Nope

Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your blog? 
I made a Vlog explaining everything about blog here: http://unputdownablebookies.blogspot.com/search/label/Introduction

Waiting on Wednesday #3



"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)




This week I'm waiting for Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. I just ordered this from Bookdepository.com and I can not wait for it to get here. I'm not going to include a summary because of possible spoilers for those who haven't read the series yet. I finished Spirit Bound yesterday and I have to say GIVE ME THE LAST BOOK NOW! hahaha. 

What are YOU waiting for this Wednesday? Let me know with a link or a comment below. :D 

Activity #13 Book Character Best Friends





For Activity #13 they asked us to provide a list of characters from books who would be your bestfriends and boyfriends if they were real. :D

Bestfriends:
Maridoc & Pippin from Lord of the Rings
Lizzie Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy 
Oliver from Blue Bloods 

Boyfriends:
Adrian Ivashkov from Frostbite
Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice (Lizzie will hate me)
Damon Slavator from the Vampire Diaries

Enemies:
Jack and Mimi Force from Blue Bloods
Dorian Gray from the Picture of Dorian Gray

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Review: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead


Summary: No summary due to spoilers. :D 

Review: One word. Unbelievable. 

The entire time I was reading this 5th installment, I had no idea what would happen next. Plot twists are every where and it literally had me screaming "Oh My God"each time. I had no idea that would happen. It was a big slap in the face. Mead hasn't written just any other vampire book. She wrote THE vampire book. Her writing is amazing starting off with the first book in the series. Its not just about vampires its about everything else in life and sometimes you feel like you're just reading about just another person. The book felt normal and yet very unique. 

The characters began growing with each page. Lissa, really grew in terms of power and Adrian I was beginning to love Adrian more than Dimitri in this one. I started hating Dimitri while he self pitied himself and shunned everyone away from him like he doesn't deserve any of them Oh the drama! But hey, what is a book without a little drama. 

Richelle Mead's writing is very unpredicatable and makes you shiver in anticipation for a solution to the current problem only to have another problem sling back into your faces as you read.

This book was unputdownable and simply left me in an awe and with that I'm dieing everyday until the last book gets to me by post (exaggeration intended). I can not wait. 

If you haven't started this series you should its utterly amazing. 

5/5 stars for this! 

I feel like I should say more since this book was utterly amazing but really this series has left me speechless.

For more reviews click me.

Teaser Tuesday #3

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading, wherein we share teasers (not spoilers) from the books we're currently reading.


Hey everyone! Its Tuesday! That means its time for a Teaser. 
I've been reading Spirit Bound. 

"You're not Moroi!" He continued. He wasn't shouting, but we'd..." - Page 344

Whats on your teaser Tuesday? Comment with a link below! I shall like to have a look. :D 

Monday, December 27, 2010

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #11: Book Title Sentence


For todays activity we were asked to make a sentence with our book titles. I kind of went overboard because it is so much fun! hahaha. :D Moving on to the sentences!


 My first one is: A fine passion [of the] fallen misguided angel [to] torment [the] need [to] shiver.


2nd one: Me and Mr. Darcy [had] a fine passion [to find] the secret misguided angel [who has] fallen [to] torment [the] need [to] shiver. (I know this doesn't make much sense)


3rd one: Me and Mr. Darcy [had] a fine passion [to] shadow kiss the secret wicked lovely misguided angel [who has] fallen to distraction.


My last one is: Jane Eyre, mastered by love [went to the] Vampire Academy masquerade [to] nightshade the host. 

This is so much fun! :D 

It's Monday, what am I reading? #3


This is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books. It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This Monday I'm reading: 



Goodreads Summary: Salvation has its price.
The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."

Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead...."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

Fall in love with Rose and Dimitri all over again in Spirit Bound, the eagerly awaited fifth novel in Richelle Mead's enthralling Vampire Academy series.


Comments: I'm near the end of this book and I don't want to finish it just yet because I don't have Last Sacrifice and I need to really get it. I'm so inlove with this series. 

This week I've read:


   



So what are you guys reading this Monday? Let me know in the comment section below. :D

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Review List

I thought of putting all my review in a list so it'll be easier to find what you need. 
Ctrl+F to do a quick find. :D 

A
Acadia, Book 1: The Goddess of Time and The Lost King by Ali M. Naqvi

B 
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

C
Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

D
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward

E
Evernight (Evernight #1) by Claudia Gray

F 
Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead 
Firespell (Dark Elite #1) by Chloe Neill
 
G
Griffin Rising (Griffin Rising #1) by Darby Karchut
Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine

H
Host, The by Stephanie Meyer
Hourglass (Evernight #3) by Claudia Gray
Hunger Games, The (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins
Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost

I

J

K

L
Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead

M 
Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa De la Cruz
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins
Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

N

Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer

O

P
Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1) by Keirsten White
Prismatica by L. David Hesler

Q

R
Released (Agents of Evil #1) by Megan S. Duncan
Radiance (Riley Bloom #1) by Alyson Noel

S
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead 
Summoning, The (The Darkest Powers #1) by Kelley Armstrong
Stargazer (Evernight #2) by Claudia Gray
Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

T
Torment (Fallen #2) by Lauren Kate

U
Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand
V
Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead

W
Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1) by Melissa Marr

X

Y

Z

Review: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead



Goodreads Summary: After the massacre at Vampire Academy, Rose Hathaway faces the most task of her life and she knows that she must do it alone. With Mason departed for the other world, Rose must hunt down and kill Dimitri Belikov, the man she most loves. The fourth nail-biting episode of Richelle Mead's popular vampire series dramatically shows the fatal power of a promise.

Review: Once again, I'm left with my jaw on the floor. I have no clue whats going to happen next and its going to drive me crazy. This is such a wonderful series! 

This is by far my favorite series of all time. I simply have no words for this. Plot twists, the emotional patches left in the book just kept reeling me in. I could not put the book down. To be frank I didn't want to. This is such an amazing series and it gets better and better each time. 

Who ever thinks otherwise is CRAZY and completely BLIND. 

This 4th installment had me gasping and OMG-ing. Rose is such an amazing character. I want to be a guardian now!

Overall, it was an amazing book! 5 stars for this installment, it never failed to disappoint me. 




Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #10: Books as Gifts

For activity #10, we were asked to show off what we got and gifted for Christmas. Since we don't really celebrate Christmas (Muslim family), I didn't get anything from my family. Instead, we had it amongst friends.

I gifted:




I'm expecting:




Happy Holidays everyone! :D

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Review: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead



Goodreads Summary:  For Rose Hathaway, everything seems out of kilter. Ever since she made her first Strigoi kills, a dark shadow has been creeping over her. Looming in the background, too, is another realization: If she follows her forbidden love for guardian Dimitri Belikov, she might lose her best friend forever. And these sleep-shaking worries couldn't have come at a worse time. The immortal unloving are prowling everywhere, famished for vengeance against her. An adrenaline-laced episode of the teen pop favorite Vampire Academy.


Review: Shadow Kiss started off where Frostbite ended and with each page that I read, new plots formed, new things happened and a hell lot of action. Again, I was captivated and mesmerized into the book. I was completely absorbing every word and line until, I have completely finished the book. The only flaws I see here and I don't know if its just me but I think there were grammar mistakes in the book. Maybe that's just me, not understanding some things. Haha.

I sort of spoiled the ending of this 3rd installment for myself before I actually started the series. It was an accident I swear! Anyways, I expected the ending but I would like to say it was AWESOME and sad. Every bit of this book is AWESOME and very realistic. I'm completely blown away again!

Richelle Mead yet again wrote an EPIC installment to the Vampire Academy series. The series is getting better and better with each installment. 

Overall, the book, the story, the cover, the plot, and the characters are AMAZING and completely 5 out of 5 stars! Another unputdownable book from Richelle Mead.

*picks up the next book of this series and reads*

Merry Christmas Everyone! :D


Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #9: Easy Christmas Activity


For this 9th Activity we were asked to do the following (Click the image to be directed to the Challenges Main page):

1. Since today is the 25th, turn to page 25 in the book you are reading right now.
2. Count down the page to line 25 and tell us what the sentence says. If there is a partial sentence or word in that line you can leave it out. If you don't have 25 lines on your page just choose the 7th line (2+5=7).
3. Be sure to post a picture of your book along with your sentence and link it below using Mr. Linky.



Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead

"...one and announce who you're paired with. At that time, come down here to the floor..." - 25th Page, 25th Sentence



Friday, December 24, 2010

In My Mailbox #2

A weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we post all books we have received where in the mail, bought or got from the library. 
  

I bought: 
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
The Passage by Justin Cronin

Mailbox:
Birth - Enola's day (CD)

My sister got: 
Rules by Jane Beaton

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! :D

Holiday Break Reading Challenge, Activity #8: Books Involving Christmas


For the 8th Activity of Holiday Break Reading Challenge. They asked us to post about books involving Christmas. So I did. I'll be posting up a book that I have read and a book that I want to read about Christmas. :D 

I've read:



Title: Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage by Sally Smith O'Rourke

Goodreads Summary: From the author of The Man Who Loved Jane Austen and The Maidenstone Lighthouse comes a heartwarming, unforgettable novel set on the ruggedly beautiful island of Cape Fear in the Carolinas, where a man determined to retreat from the world discovers the redemptive power of unexpected love.

With its rough gray shingles and weathered slate roof, Sea Pines cottage seems, at first glance, past its prime. But inside this remote fisherman's house, a driftwood fire crackles in the fireplace, brightly colored rugs cover the floor, and cozy cushions dot the worn, welcoming furniture. A young man named Robert has retreated after the war, planning to spend his days writing, tending to the local lighthouse, and nursing his injuries-physical and mental. For company, he adopts a young Golden Retriever puppy named Meteor, who happily settles into life at Sea Pines, delighting in his master's loving care.

Robert and Meteor spend months in quiet companionship, until the day Robert rescues a young woman from a storm at sea. Strong-willed and intelligent, Laura sees past Robert's injuries to the proud, passionate man beneath, and-with some matchmaking help from Meteor-they begin a new life together at the cottage. When their son, Nicholas, is born on Christmas Eve, Meteor immediately becomes the little boy's most loyal friend. But even Meteor's tireless devotion can't protect his cherished family from all of life's unexpected challenges-hurdles that will teach each of them lessons of courage, faith, friendship, and the enduring love that can sustain us through life's coldest seasons.

Comments: I enjoyed this book, it took me only a few hours to read it but it was such a heartwarming story about love, hope and Christmas. It made me cry. :(

To-read:


Title: The Snow Globe by Sheila Robert

Goodreads Summary: Discover an unforgettable holiday treasure in Sheila Roberts’ heartwarming tale of love and laughter, magic and miracles, friendship and coming home.
On a blustery afternoon, Kylie Gray wanders into an antique shop and buys an enchanting snow globe. There’s a story behind that snow globe,” the antique dealer tells her.  The original owner, he explains, was a German toymaker who lost his wife and son right before Christmas.  When the grieving widower received the handcrafted snow globe as a Christmas gift, he saw the image of a beautiful woman beneath the glass—a woman who would come into his life, mend his broken heart and bring him back to the world of the living.  For years, the snow globe has passed from generation to generation, somehow always landing in the hands of a person in special need of a Christmas miracle. 
Kylie could use a miracle herself.  This year, all she wants for Christmas is someone to love.  A hopeful shake leads her on an adventure that makes a believer out of her. When Kylie shares the story of the snow globe with her best friends-two women with problems of their own-they don’t believe it.  But they’re about to discover that at Christmastime, sometimes the impossible becomes possible and miracles really do come true.

Comments: When I read the summary I was intrigued and wondered what miracles came to Kylie. I hope I get to read it.