Branching Out (18)

Branching Out is an exciting feature which focuses on bloggers. Anyone can be a part of this, you just have to answer some simple questions for me, so that we can all get to know you better. This week my special guest is:

Name/Screen Name: Steph Bowe
Blog: Hey! Teenager of the Year (http://heyteenager.blogspot.com)
Age: 15

1. Tell us about you and your blog.
I’m a fifteen-year-old aspiring author and book blogger. I live in Australia with my parents, sister and a small, fluffy and slightly crazy dog. Outside of reading, writing and blogging, I love watching B-grade zombie movies, stealing hats from people (kidding!) and helping the elderly cross the street.

I started blogging at Hey! Teenager of the Year in April 2009; I wanted to start after seeing all the brilliant book and author blogs out there, and wanting to have go at it myself. There aren’t many libraries or book stores near where I live, and none of my friends like reading, so blogging is really the only way I can express my love of teen books!

My blog offers (what I hope are) articulate reviews, interesting author interviews plus posts about writing (my other passion), life as a teenager and whatever other issue takes my fancy. I aim for my blog to be funny and informative, and I post daily.


2. You also run The YA Blogosphere. Tell us about that and/or any other similar projects you run.
The YA Blogosphere is really great for people new to the YA book blog world, because they can quickly and easily find a blog from their country or in their genre. Recently, I’ve had authors email me and tell me about their book, and ask who I think would be a suitable reviewer – the YA Blogosphere makes it easy to find an appropriate blogger for them.

The number of entries now are up over 150, and always growing. It was a bit difficult to set up (I emailed A LOT of book bloggers), but Kristi of The Story Siren helped me out (I used the blogs on the YA Book Blog Directory as a starting point). I aim for it to reach a point where publishers can easily find a blog that’ll be appropriate for reviewing their books, and that it’ll generate readers for new YA book bloggers.


3. What is your favorite and least favorite aspect of blogging.
Favorite: Chatting to all of the fantastic book bloggers, getting books for review in the mail (such an awesome feeling!), getting to know authors and other people from around the world, having a lot of fun writing posts and reading the comments people make on my blog!

Least favorite: As in all aspects of life, there are some people who are negative (leaving mean comments anonymously) – only very few, though. Everyone else is wonderful. Also, I’m always doubting myself and thinking ‘Why don’t I have as many readers as this person? My blog is no good.’ I think everyone is a bit like that.


4. What are some things that you know now about blogging that you wish you had known when you first started?
1. Don’t expect to have a million readers straight away
2. It’s your blog, write what you want, when you want
3. Reading and commenting on other people’s blogs is just as important as working on your own


5. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?
Looking For Alaska by John Green, Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell and Skim by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki.


6. List 3 random things about you.
1. I shaved my head last year to raise money for cancer research. I was totally bald! It was a really interesting experience though, and I’m far less self-conscious than I was before.

2. I do school by correspondence now so I can travel around Australia. People ask where I go to school, and I say, ‘I don’t.’ They think I’m a total bad-ass.

3. I have a scar on my lip from when I fell over when I was two and split my lip open. When I was ten and at a new school, I made up a story where I said the scar was from a fight I was in. I said, “Yeah, I got this scar, but you shoulda seen the other girl. She was in hospital for a week.” (This is funny, because I am the most non-confrontational person ever. I’ve never fought anyone in my life.) I got a bit of a reputation because of this. Nobody messes with Steph Bowe.


Thanks Steph!

In My Mailbox (18)

In My Mailbox explores the really cool stuff that comes weekly in my mailbox. Items mentioned have been received from various sources, such as the library, the publisher/author, or bought by me. This event is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren.


Review:

Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus
The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus

Contest: (Thank you, Alyssa!)

Must Love Black by Kelly McClymer
Switch by Carol Snow
Kaimira: The Sky Village, Book One by Monk Ashland, Nigel Ashland

Bought:

House of Night 1-4 Box Set by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

I re-bought these because I am not sure where my other copies went. Plus they came in a really nice box with a pretty poster.

That is all for me this week. I cannot wait to see what everyone else got. Happy Reading!

Design It Up! (5)

Design It Up! is a feature which helps you learn handy little tricks to tweak up your blog. This week we are going to tackle Google Forms. These forms are very flexible and great to use for many different blog related events. They are very easy to set up, plus you can customize them in almost any way that you want. And with the concerns over personal privacy beginning to surface, this is a proactive step that a blogger can take to help ensure their readers information be kept private.

How to create a new form:

1. If you don't already have one, you must sign-up for a Google account. They are free, and only take a minute or two to create.

2. Once you are signed in, go to Google Documents either by visiting http://docs.google.com, or selecting "Documents" from the Google main page.

3. You will then select "Create New," then select "Form."


4. Next you will see the basic "Form." From here there are a few things you can do:

1.) Add questions
2.) Change the background. They have almost 70 different ones to choose from!
3.) Embed the form onto your site by copying and pasting the HTML code
4.) These are sample questions. You can either edit or delete them. I usually just delete them to start with a black form.
5.) At the bottom, there is direct link that you can also use to link to the form.


5. Once you have the form and questions set up how you like, just hit save and you are done! All that is left is to decide how you would like to implement the form on your site, and plug it in.

Now, if you are like me, and want to know when people submit a form, there is a nice feature that Google has where it can email you. To set this up, go back to your main Google Documents page, and select the form which you would like to get notifications for. Go to "Tools"- "Notification Rules...". From here you can select what kinds of emails you get, and how many.

And that is it! Enjoy!

Got any blogger designing questions you want addressed? Leave a comment or email me at neverendingshelf(at)gmail.com.

Animanga Review: Avalon High

Author: Meg Cabot, Jinky Coronado (Illustrator)
Released: 2007 by TokyoPop
Summary from GoodReads:

Meg Cabot's magical Arthurian epic continues...MANGA STYLE!

Being a new student at Avalon High has been exciting for Ellie, to say the least--she's an honor student, a star on the track team, and, oh yeah, dating the super-hot class president, Will. Who also happens to be the alleged reincarnation of King Arthur. Ellie couldn't be happier to have Will in her life, but she's also worried that his estrangement from his parents is tearing him apart. To make matters worse, Will's doubt that he really is King Arthur could prevent the Merlin Prophecy--an age of enlightenment--from occurring.

Can Ellie convince Will to believe in something that even she isn't sure about? And more importantly, can she get him to give his parents another chance?With all the mythology and mysticism of AVALON HIGH, Meg Cabot's very first manga is indeed a tale for the ages.

Avalon High was a joy to read, yet frustrating at the same time. This is a continuation of the novel of the same name by Meg Cabot. While I really enjoyed the novel, the first volume of the manga series is almost blah. The beginning was really well done. The back story was given, and all the characters were nicely introduced. Yet for the rest of the first volume, it just seemed a little too repetitive. Ellie is constantly trying to find ways to tell or convince Will of the prophecy. While I understand this is not an easy task, I found the dialogue to be stale. Thankfully, my interest was recaptured by the introduction of the "evil" characters.

All in all, this was not the worst manga I have ever read, but it also was not close to the best. The drawings were pretty well done. I really loved the Arthurian outfits that were included. It gave a nice authentic feeling to it. While I am not too sure, if that is enough to make everyone keep reading, I think that I am willing to give the series another chance and attempt Vol. 2. I honestly hope that the second novel picks this series up a little bit because I really do want to like it, but it just hasn't given me much of a reason to yet.

2010 Debut Author Challenge!

What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

• The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.

• Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.

• The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

Hosted by The Story Siren. This challenge sounds amazing! There are so many novels being released by 2010 debut authors that I cannot wait to get my hands on. I am so excited to start this challenge.

I hope to read a minimum 30. But I am hoping that as 2010 rolls on, I will be able to make that number much higher. There truly are so many great novels to look forward to in 2010. Here is my list of must reads thus far (in no particular order):

1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
   
2. The Line by Teri Hall
3. Shadow Hills by Anatasia Hopcus
4. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
5. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
6. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
7. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubard
8. The Mark by Jen Nadol
9. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
10. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
11. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
12. The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
13. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
14. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
15. Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
16. A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis
17. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
18. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
19. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
20. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
21. Other by Karen Kincy
22. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
23. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
24. Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
25. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
26. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
27. Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
28. Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
29. Epitaph Road by David Patneaude
30. Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omololu
31. The Ghost and The Goth by Stacey Kade
32. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready 
33. Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala  
34. Firespell (Dark Elite, #1) by Chloe Neill
35. Crossing by Andrew Fukuda
36. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black  

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Want to take a moment to wish all those out there celebrating today a Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope that everyone has a great holiday, and gets to eat lots of wonderful food.

Neverending Discoveries

Neverending Discoveries is a feature that mentions books that I have discovered through my sidetracking excursions around the web. While my bookshelf really is not never ending, it is always exciting to share the books I would add if it was.

Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma
Never After by Dan Elconin

Pride and Prejudice and Zombie: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Jane Austen, Steven Hockensmith
Feed by Mira Grant

Split by Stefan Petrucha
The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Book Review: Mercury Falls

Author: Rob Kroese
Released: July 2009 by St. Culain Press
Copy Provided by: Author
Summary from GoodReads:

Years of covering the antics of End Times cults for The Banner, a religious news magazine, have left Christine Temetri not only jaded but seriously questioning her career choice. That is, until she meets Mercury, an anti-establishment angel who's frittering his time away whipping up batches of Rice Krispy Treats and perfecting his ping-pong backhand instead of doing his job: helping to orchestrate Armageddon. With the end near and angels and demons debating the finer political points of the Apocalypse, Christine and Mercury accidentally foil an attempt to assassinate one Karl Grissom, a thirty-seven-year-old film school dropout about to make his big break as the Antichrist. Now, to save the world, she must negotiate the byzantine bureaucracies of Heaven and Hell and convince the apathetic Mercury to take a stand, all the while putting up with the obnoxious mouth-breathing Antichrist.

Mercury Falls is a novel that is full of surprises. From reading the description, I was not completely sure what I was getting into. Yet after getting a few pages in, I was hooked. The pacing was excellent. And the novel brilliantly examines the idea of free will in a deliciously humorous way. I have to say that I have never read anything like this novel. The closest thing that I can relate this novel to is Monty Python. To be honest, the whole time I was reading the novel, I could just picture the actors doing a play version of this novel. And it made me laugh even more.

Thankfully, there is a lot more to the novel than just laughs. Kroese has a great ability to blend theology with humor, satire, and a bunch of other elements. After reading this novel, I know that it is not going to be for everyone, and some may even take offense. However, I think that Kroese is very respectful of different religious ideals. His novel is not meant to poke fun at religion, but more to poke fun at aspects of our society. But those brave enough to take the journey into this Apocalypse themed novel, you are in for a first class treat.

Thank You Contest

This holiday season, I have so much to be thankful. All the great people I have met through blogging, all my readers, my family, the list could go on forever. In honor of the holidays and me recently reaching 500 followers (thank you!!), I am going to hold the largest contest I have ever had: 17 books for 5 winners!!!

There are two parts to this contest:

In the first part, there will be 4 winners each winning 4 books.

For the second part, I have taken various covers and pieced them together into a Book Cover Collage. Your job: tell me the titles that are showcased-- preferably author and title.


The Part One books up for grab are:

Tall, Dark and Fangsome by Michelle Rowan
(The book came with the spine being a little warped at the bottom)

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire by Diana Laurence

Let Slip the Dogs of Love by Eugene Kachmarsky

Ruined by Paula Morris

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Mercury Falls by Robert Kroese

Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (ARC)

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (ARC)

Candle Man: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance by Glenn Dakin (ARC)

Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley (ARC)

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer (ARC)

Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me by Lisa Fineberg Cook

The Man who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett (ARC)

Part Two winner will win:

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (ARC)

AND some surprise books that will be revealed at later dates.

____________________________________

Contest information:

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

• Contest will end on December 31st.
• Open internationally.
• You may enter one or both parts; however, you cannot win both.
• The Part Two winner will be chosen based on the most titles correctly identified. In the event of a tie, I have included a bonus question.

For more details about contest policies, please check out my contest policy page.


Good Luck!

Book Review: Defenders of the Scroll

Author: Shiraz
Released: June 2009 by iUniverse.com
Copy Provided by: Author
Summary from GoodReads:

A teenage boy. A dark wizard. A mystic scroll. And the fate of a world hangs in the balance...

When Alex "the Axeman" Logan is pulled from his world to help a young princess, named Dara, save her kingdom from the Shadow Lord, he thinks there has been a mistake. He's a teen guitar player close to failing 11th grade, not some defender of the realm. All he has are some school books, his wits, and his love of fantasy movies. Overnight his life is history. Alex must confront the Shadow Lord and his minions when he is thrust into a land that has changed from a magical paradise to a barren, hopeless, helpless realm invaded by a dark army. But Alex is not alone. He has the help of Dara, a magic scroll, and a band of unlikely companions drawn from his own history books: a hardened Roman Legionnaire, a swift Japanese Samurai, a fearless African Warrior, a fiery Amazon Archer, and a spirited Shaolin Monk.

Can Alex become more than he believes and lead his small band of Defenders to the Hall of Shadows, the birthplace of the Shadow Lord? The fate of the realm and everyone in it rests on him.

Defenders of the Scroll is an entertaining, non-stop action packed read. From page one, the reader is immersed in a incredible fantasy world. The world that Shiraz has created is fascinating, yet has believable aspects woven in. The plot held my attention, and kept me on the edge of my seat. One of the best things about this novel has be its characters. They are realistic, funny, and just so three dimensional. I loved getting to know them and watch their adventures unfold.

The only flaw to the novel is probably the ending. It was just a little too abrupt for me. I am hoping there is a sequel, so that I can find out more about this fascinating world and its characters. All in all, this book has a little bit in it for everyone. I would definitely recommend it to any one who enjoys a great sci-fi / fantasy read.

Branching Out (17)

Branching Out is an exciting feature which focuses on bloggers. Anyone can be a part of this, you just have to answer some simple questions for me, so that we can all get to know you better. This week my special guest is:


Name/Screen Name: Mariah
Blog: A Reader’s Adventure http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/
Age: 16


1. Tell us about your blog.
It is a YA book blog where I have contests, review books and have interviews.


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?
My favorite part would have to be being a part of such a great group of people! Book Bloggers for the most part are really nice. I also like being about to share my opinion of books with people!


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?
This is really hard! Hmm. Probably The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and Beauty by Robin McKinley


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?
My favorite genre is Young Adult. As for favorite author I cannot pick! I have read books by so many great authors. Some of my favorites are Suzanne Collins, Kristin Cashore, Meg Cabot, Robin McKinley, and many more that are not coming to mind at the moment.


5. What are you reading right now?
Right now I am reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner and Candle Man by Glenn Dakin.


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...
Singing, or reading


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.
There are so many I really like The Story Siren because she was one of the bloggers that inspired me to start my own blog. Also Bookworming in the 21st Century and Books By Their Cover.


8. 3 truths and a lie:

I want to be a Doctor when I grow up
I am the youngest of 4 siblings
I am a really quiet, introverted person
I can speak 3 languages English, Spanish, and Latin

____________________

Want the chance to win some cool book swag and maybe a book or two? All you have to do to enter is complete my entry form guessing which statement you believe is the lie. Two lucky winners will be randomly selected each month. Winners (and lies) will be announced at the beginning of the following month. Good Luck!

Chasing Brooklyn Winner + First Review Vlog

First up is the winner for The Chase around the USA with Chasing Brooklyn. Congrats goes to:

Kari of A Good Addiction

An email has been sent to you about your win. Please reply ASAP.

****

Now on to the really fun part! I was asked by the wonderful Frank Beddor and his lovely assistant Emily to do a review vlog of The Looking Glass Wars series. In case you have not heard, this is one of my all time favorite series. Anyways, I have posted it below so that you can see it. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out, and I am thinking about starting to do more vlog reviews. What do you think?

Enjoy!

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox explores the really cool stuff that comes weekly in my mailbox. Items mentioned have been received from various sources, such as the library, the publisher/author, or bought by me. This event is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren.

Surprisingly, I have started missing doing vlogs, so I decided to give in and do one for today. Enjoy!






Books Mentioned:

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier
Spy Goddess, Vol. 1: The Chase for the Chalice by Michael P. Spradlin
Faeries' Landing, Vol. 1 by You Hyun
The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, Vol. 1 by Arina Tanemura
Princess Resurrection, Vol. 1 by Yasunori Mitsunaga
Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters, Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, Jane Austen
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

James Patterson Prize Pack:

The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1)
School's Out - Forever (Maximum Ride, #2)
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride, #3)
The Final Warning (Maximum Ride, #4)
Max (Maximum Ride, #5)
Maximum Ride (Maximum Ride, The Manga, #1)
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
Daniel X: Watch the Skies (Daniel X, #2)
(Thank you Elise)

Nancy Holder Prize Pack:

Wicked: Witch & Curse (Wicked, #1-2)
Wicked 2: Legacy & Spellbound (Wicked, #3-4)
Resurrection (Wicked, #5)
Possessions
Pretty Little Devils
(Thank you Amber)

The Chase for Chasing Brooklyn

I was very fortunate to be the fifth stop on Lisa Schroeder's Chase around the USA featuring Chasing Brooklyn.

I have to stay that this book really surprised me. It is filled with so many varying emotions. Once minute you will find yourself laughing, and the next you are crying. It is a very quick read due to the unique writing style that Schroeder used. The story is told through alternating points of view in verse form. At first, I thought the way it was written was going to take away from the story since I would be too focused on the writing. But I was wrong. This is a beautiful story filled with amazing messages. But more on my thoughts later in an official review.

For my one word choice, I picked HOPE. This word means so much in this novel. The hope to overcome obstacles. The hope to love again. The list goes on and on. For my picture, I tried to recreate Brooklyn's desk. On the screen is a picture of Hyacinths, the flower of hope, along with my word choice. On the desk is her notebook that she writes to Lucca in with his Ipod that she took from Nico.


Now if you would like a chance to be the next stop in the Chase for Chasing Brooklyn, please fill out the form below. One name will be randomly drawn 24 hours from the date and time of this blog post, and the winner will be contacted via e-mail. The winner will not only get to read Chasing Brooklyn way before its release, but will also receive a $10.00 gift card from the bookstore of his/her choice from Lisa. And if Lisa guesses what state the winner lives in before the state is revealed to her, that amount doubles to $20.00!

Please note that the Participants in the Chase Around the USA have 5 responsibilities. If you don’t think you can meet these responsibilities, PLEASE DO NOT enter your information. The responsibilities are as follows:

1) READ - CHASING BROOKLYN within 7 days of receiving it. If you can read it sooner, even better!

2) Take a photo of ONE word - about the book, to describe the book, something in the book that’s important, etc. How do you show us your word? Be creative! Write on paper, on a t-shirt, in the sand, on the wall, in cereal – the possibilities are endless! Please TRY TO INCLUDE THE ARC IN THE PHOTO SOMEHOW. The only requirement is that it cannot be something negative. Of course some people may not like the book. But Lisa plans to use these pictures in a special way when the chase is over, so positive is best. If you don’t like the book, simply pick a word that shares the tone of the book, describes a character, etc. (By participating in this contest, you agree to e-mail the photo to Lisa for her to use as she chooses.)

3) Post the ONE WORD photo on your blog - along with a picture of the CHASING BROOKLYN cover and these rules, and hold another contest just like this one, drawing a name within 24 hours of the blog post. Do what you can (tweet, facebook, etc) to point people to your blog about the contest.

4) Post a comment on Lisa Schroeder's blog - that you've held the contest and drawn the next blogger's name (without revealing the name) to receive the ARC. Lisa will then try to CHASE the ARC down by posting a guess on her blog of what state the ARC will go to next. Once Lisa's blog post goes up with the guess, the current holder of the ARC will post the new winner's name and the state he/she lives in on his/her blog. If Lisa guesses the correct state, the next recipient of the ARC receives a $20.00 gift card to the bookstore of his/her choice!!

5) Mail the ARC - to the winner IMMEDIATELY after receiving the winner's address, so the book can get into as many hands as possible. Lisa is hoping for at least 7-8 stops on the chase, but that will only happen if people get the book read and sent off quickly. Use the flat shipping rate envelopes at the post office for a low price and speedy delivery! Whoever has the book on the release date of 1/5 will mail the book back to Lisa. Please feel free to write notes in the ARC for Lisa to read when the book is returned to her.

At the end of chase across the USA, Lisa will draw three names from the bloggers who participated in the chase to receive FREE signed copies of one of her books - I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, FAR FROM YOU or CHASING BROOKLYN.

Finally, the blogger who has the most creative one word photo (judged by three teens in Lisa's neighborhood) gets a signed copy of FLASH BURNOUT by L.K. Madigan, a signed copy of LIPS TOUCH by Laini Taylor, and a copy of CRASH INTO ME by Albert Borris.


Contest information:

-- Contest Closed --

Book Review: Let Slip The Dogs of Love

Author: Eugene Kachmarsky
Released: April 2009 by Eloquent Books
Copy Provided by: Author
Summary from GoodReads:

In an urban legend style of storytelling flavored with magical realism, Let Slip the Dogs of Love blends together a thought-provoking collage of mesmeric short stories. It grips your full attention by flinging open, widely, a few infinite portals of perception. It brings an awareness to consider why we feel the things we do. This tapestry of stories reveals the sublime, ridiculous, triumphant and tragic ways in which ordinary people deal with the often extraordinary consequences of their choices and actions. With a rapidly and frequently changing pace and rhythm, taking gentle curves and sudden, unexpected hairpin-turns at full centripetal force, these ironic and karmic accounts tell tales of love, crime, poverty, tragedy, greed and evil in a thoughtful, sometimes playfully humorous, youthful voice. Delve with wonder into the depths that lie beneath the surface of all things in a quiet, sleepy metropolitan suburb.

Normally, I do not read short stories. There is something about them that just never feels finished enough for me. So when I started reading, Let Slip the Dogs of Love, I was a little hesitant. But fear not, I am now happy to say I may be a short story believer.

Kachmarsky's collection has a Twilight Zone vibe with some darkness and edge mixed in. While they do not all relate to each other, there was a cohesiveness to this collection that I really appreciated. Each tale is incredibly creative, and fast paced. I really did not want some of them to end. All in all, I am really pleased with this collection. It showed me a side of short stories that I had yet to be introduced to. I think if more collections were similar to this one, I would definitely be a constant short story reader.

Are you Serious?

I found this picture on Perez Hilton's blog. It is a picture of some twihard (aka Twilight fanatic) who got a part of the novel tattooed on her back. I understand the devotion that these fans have for the novel. And I will be honest, I really enjoyed the first novel. However, as the series progressed, I felt my love dimming. Then as the Twilight mania has taken over, I find myself disliking the whole series more and more. Why might you ask.

Simple. The novel (and its franchise) has become way to overexposed, and taken out of content. Yes, the novel is a love story. However, there is much more to that. Edward and Bella have the most unhealthy relationship that I have ever read about. He is a border-line stalker, and she is obsessed to the point that she would cause harm to herself. Do not believe me, or think that I am being too critical. Read the novel closely, especially New Moon. It is all there, and even this quote on this fan's back alludes to the unhealthiness of this couple: With Edward gone, there is no reason for anything. I do not know about you, but I am ready for the Twilight obsession to be over. It is a decent series, but does not send the greatest of messages to teens.

Secret Santa Update

Most of the partner emails have been sent for our upcoming event. All should receive their information by Tomorrow. If you have not received an email by Saturday, PLEASE email me ASAP so I can either resend it to you, or figure out what has happened. I feel like a real Santa since I am definitely making a list and checking it twice.

Final note, I am still looking for Christy Khamphilay. She has signed up, but did not leave an email address. Please, please contact me ASAP. I really do not want to exclude you from Secret Santa; however, I may have to do so if I do not hear back from you.

*Update*

I think Kristi of The Story Siren found Christy. Crossing my fingers she emails me.

I have also gotten some help from some little elves in sending out everyone's SS partners. So be on the look out for those since they may not be coming from neverendingshelf@gmail.com or booklovers.secret.santa@gmail.com. But please, do not email questions to the elves. Instead email them to booklovers.secret.santa@gmail.com

Fallen Winner + A Question

Thank you to all that entered my Fallen Contest. I had an amazing turn out for it, and the winner is...

Lindsay's Photographys


On another note, I still have not heard from some of my other winners for my Heretic's Daughter and Rowan of the Wood contests despite my numerous efforts to have them claimed. This leads me to a question, what should I do?

I have clearly stated that I will announce winners and they will need to contact me on contest policy page. In addition, I have added a recent posts widget to my sidebar, so if you have not visited in a few days the information is there to see what you have missed. I am curious to see what others do in this situation.

To be honest, I could just e-mail my winners; however, I feel like that is too much run around work for me. I really would hate to name new winners, but at the same time, these prizes need to be sent out by their respective donors. Therefore, my question goes out to bloggers and reader alike. What is a happy medium for contest winners and their hosts?

For example:

Is 72 hours to claim a prize too short of a period? If so, how long is a fair amount of time.

Is it too much to ask that winners contact the host instead of the host contacting the winner(s)?


If you have any opinions or insight into the topic, I would love to hear what you have to say. Please leave a comment or email me at neverendingshelf(at)gmail(dot)com. As of this moment, I am not naming new winners until I decide a more concrete plan of action.

Book Review: Another Faust

Authors: Daniel and Dina Nayeri
Published: August 2009 by Candlewick
Summary from GoodReads:

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the sideeffects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption.

Another Faust is a compelling mixture of darkness and suspense. The novel follows 5 teens on their journey to illuminate the price that one must pay in return for being "special." There are many aspects of this novel that showed promise. The pacing of the novel was done wonderfully. I think that the authors took their time to expound on certain areas, while glossing over the others. This format kept the book fresh for me, and maintained my attention. The characters were easy to connect with, and dislike if you so chose. In addition, I found their "gifts" to be a wonderful extension of themselves. Each "gift" perfectly suited each character and made them easier to differentiate.

My biggest issue was that there were passages that I had to reread several times, including out loud, to try to grasp what the authors were trying to say. And I am sad to say, but I still do not understand some of them due to the confusing wording. Despite that, I enjoyed how different this novel is from most of the material out there right now for young adult readers. And I look forward to see what fate awaits our characters in the next novel, Another Pan.

Animanga Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Plot from IMDB:

A teenage girl finds that she has the ability to leap through time. With her newfound power, she tries to use it to her advantage, but soon finds that tampering with time can lead to some rather discomforting results.



Trailer:

Before I start my review, I want to properly introduce my new feature. An Animanga review will feature either an anime or manga, but can also include movies from this genre. They will be geared towards the young adult age group, meaning that they will be rated PG-13 and under. Right now, I am thinking this will be a bi-monthly event; however, I am open to changing it to more or less depending on the feedback.

_______________________________________


The Girl who Leapt Through Time is probably one of the most beautifully written and scored movies that I have ever seen. Based in high amount of realism, the twists of science fiction make this movie that much more special. While it starts off a little slow, once the twists start coming into play, the viewer cannot help but be drawn into this highly imaginative tale.

The plot revolves around Makoto, a student who discovers how to leap through time. Her antics are incredibly hilarious and realistic. Whether it is something a mundane as retaking a failed test or wanting to redo a night of karaoke over and over again, I was fascinated with the idea of traveling in time just to have those small moments back. The main characters are extremely likable and easy to relate to. They also add an extra amount of realism to the movie. They act, talk, react, etc. just as normal teens. You just cannot help but to like them. The plot takes a swift dramatic turn in the second half, when the main conflict finally reveals itself. To be honest, I found much of this part to be mind-blowing and completely unexpected-- in an amazing, I love this movie that much more kinda way.

Even though there are some slower moments, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is full of hilarious and poignant moments that will make you laugh, cry, and think. If you are a fan of any of the Hayao Miyazaki films, then this is a great movie for you. It is filled with a perfect blend of fantasy, humor, and a great message. This is one movie you will find yourself watching again and again.

My rating here.

Book Review: Crazy Beautiful

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Released: September 2009
Copy Provided by: A Passion for Books
Summary from GoodReads:

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself. Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her. But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering. Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Crazy Beautiful has one of the most interesting twists on the tale of Beauty and the Beast that I have ever read. And to be honest, if I did not know that this was suppose to be a retelling, I would have never made the connection between the two tales. The novel was very well paced, and highly creative. Told in alternating points of view, the reader really gets to know each character, and it makes the romantic aspect that much more special. There is an emotional connection with the characters possible for the readers, which I find can be quite rare. Throughout the novel, I found myself cheering them on, and wanting things to ultimately work out for the best.

My only complaint about the novel is how realistic Baratz-Logsted tried to make the male perspective. For the most part, there was no doubt that she got Lucius figured out. His narration sounds like some thing a male would say. His actions were that of many males I know. Yet, there were a few scenes that I felt could have been left out completely. I felt like they had no real purpose besides the author trying to convince her readers that she understands the male mind. While not completely distasteful, I just did not see the point to them.

Due to a few questionable scenes, I would not recommend this novel to anyone maybe less than 14 years old. While they do not take away from the novel, I think that some parents might not approve of their children reading that material until they are a bit older to understand it. Despite a few issues, I really liked the novel. It was incredibly creative. I loved Aurora's character, and I felt like Lucius had a lot of redeeming qualities. I think that for a mature reader, this a great retelling that can be read and again.

Follow Ups

I have two short announcements:

First, I have only had 2 people claim their prizes from The Heretic's Daughter and Rowan of the Wood contests. The winners names can be found here. Current winners have until Tuesday night to claim their prizes, or else I will be forced to pick new winners. While I hate doing this, it is needed since I hate hunting down winners.

Second, I have begun sending out information regarding Secret Santa. If you signed up, you will be receiving a basic information email from me today. If you do not receive one, please check your spam boxes, or contact me for more information. I also have a participant with no email address. Could Christy Khamphilay please contact me with your email address, so that I may update your information.

Branching Out (16)

Branching Out is an exciting feature which focuses on bloggers. Anyone can be a part of this, you just have to answer some simple questions for me, so that we can all get to know you better. This week my special guest is Sandy of Pirate Penguin's Reads:

Name/Screen Name: Sandy
Blog: Pirate Penguin's Reads
Age: 18


1. Tell us about your blog.
I mostly review YA but occasionally a middle-grade or adult title will catch my eye and then creep its way onto my site. I read fiction and rarely touch nonfiction books. I think the only nonfiction book I've mentioned so far on my blog has been a bellydancing memoir. (I like variety ;D) Also, I plan on getting author interviews and contests.


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?
The bloggers, hands down. Each comment I get makes me smile :)

3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?
Oh that's so hard!!! um... I'd definetely have Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte with me... as for the other two... I'm gonna have to pick Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Heather Hepler & Brad Barkley.


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?
I can't choose one favorite author; there are a lot of talented ones! But after recently reading Hush Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick's definetely up there! And I will always love Megan McCafferty for creating Marcus Flutie! I also really like Meg Cabot, Richelle Mead and E. Lockhart. Each bring something awesome to the table :D


5. What are you reading right now?
I'm reading Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe.


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...
So incredibly bored. And stifled! I never get sick of talking about books!


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.
The Story Siren, Letras Y Escenas (a wonderful spanish site that I adore), The Tainted Poet, Bloody Bookaholic and The Book Pixie ;)


8. 3 truths and a lie:
- I've eaten rabbit.
- I speak two languages.
- Blue is my favorite color.
- My hair is naturally curly.

____________________________

Want the chance to win some cool book swag and maybe a book or two? All you have to do to enter is complete my entry form guessing which statement you believe is the lie. Two lucky winners will be randomly selected each month. Winners (and lies) will be announced at the beginning of the following month. Good Luck!

In My Mailbox (16)

This was a very quiet week for me. I am actually quiet thankful for that since it allowed me to catch up on some much needed reading from the TBR pile-- which has grown to epic portions. So here is what I got:

Library:

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima


Bought:

Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling (which has a beautiful cover)

*In My Mailbox is brought to us by the one and only Kristi of The Story Siren.*

Thanks Yous + Questions

First of all, I want to send a huge THANK YOU!!! to everyone. I hit 500 followers sometime Friday night into Saturday morning. I cannot begin to tell you how in shock I am over this new development. I am grateful to all of you for making The Neverending Shelf what it is. To celebrate, I will be having a contest soon, but I need to decide what I want to do first. If you have any suggestions as to what you would like to see in a contest, feel free to leave me a comment.

*****

In other news, I will be starting something new soon: Manga / Anime reviews. The reason behind this is that I miss reading and watching them. Since I started blogging, all my time has been taken up by YA. I feel like I need a small change of pace, and this may provide a great distraction every once and a while.

What are your feelings toward manga / anime? Love it or Hate it? Do you have any titles that you would love to see reviewed?

Contest Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the following contests:


Rowan of the Wood Prize pack:

Jo Lynne Valerie

The Heretic's Daughter:
Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) -- Already won a copy.

WilowRaven

Enyl

Haleyknitz

Raspberry

New winner: Melissa


Winners, please email your information to neverendingshelf(at)gmail(dot)com within the next 72 hours, so I can get your prize out to you! Thanks to all for entering my contest.

Book Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Author: Beth Fantaskey
Released: February 2009 by Harcourt
Summary from GoodReads:

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . . Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he's her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius's soul from eternal destruction.

Imagine finding out that the person you have always thought you were no longer exists. Instead of being a "normal" teenager, you are now expected to be royalty, vampire royalty no less, and marry a complete stranger. These are the life changes facts that Jessica must now come to terms with.

I must admit that in the first 1/3 of the book, I just did not see myself finishing this one. While the plot was incredibly creative, the pacing was a bit slow. In addition, I just did not care for Lucius (at first). There was a part of me that was just really annoyed by him. To be honest, I am not completely sure if this was just my reaction to him, or the reaction that Fantaskey wanted her readers to have. Regardless, the novel had a few redeeming qualities, so I decided to give the novel the benefit of the doubt.

Despite a rocky start, I am really glad I stuck with this novel. Fantaskey gives her readers some of the most chemistry charged moments I have ever read. They are filled with passion, hunger, and something else that it just indescribable. As the novel progressed, the character really grew on me as I came to know them. I wanted Jessica and Lucius to be together. I wanted everything to work out. And Fantaskey did not disappoint.

Design It Up! (4)

This week's handy tip was suggested by Raspberry. She asked: how do you post on top of the middle post area?

I am assuming that she is referring to a sticky post. In case you do not know, a sticky post is a post that you can create to go above all your other posts. This can be a great feature if you are wanting to announce a contest you are hosting, or maybe general information for your blog. Here is how to add one:

1) In your Blogger account. Go to "Layout" from the "Dashboard."

2) You are then going to "Add a Gadget" which will support your needs. For example, if you are wanting to announce a contest or update to your blog, a text gadget will probably meet your needs.

3) After you have completed the gadget, you are going to drag it and place it above (or below) your "Blogging Posts" section.

4) Now all that is left is to do a quick "Preview" to make sure the post is where you want it. Then click "Save." And you are done!


Got any blogger designing questions you want addressed? Leave a comment or email me at neverendingshelf(at)gmail.com.

Secret Santa News

I am officially starting to wind up the sign-up process for Secret Santa. Remember you have until this Sunday, November 15th to register. At this moment, we have over 90 participants registered with 15 international members. On that note, I am currently looking for more participants in the following countries OR someone willing to partner with them:

Sweden, Egypt, and Philippines. If you are willing, please e-mail at neverendingshelf(at)gmail(dot)com.

In addition to Sunday being the last day to register, it is also your last day to edit any of your information. If you want to add/update, or add a link to a wishlist on Amazon, Goodreads, etc. please email me ASAP. I will accept these changes until then. After the 15th, I will NOT edit any information.

Thank you all for making this event so successful. And I can't wait to see what everyone gets!

Neverending Discoveries

Neverending Discoveries is a feature that mentions books that I have discovered through my sidetracking excursions around the web. While my bookshelf really is not never ending, it is always exciting to share the books I would add if it was.

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill

Wayfarer (Faery Rebel #2) by R.J. Anderson

Beauty's Curse by Traci E. Hall

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

Book Review: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

Author: Allison Hoover Bartlett
Released: September 2009 by Riverhead Hardcover
Copy Provided by: Publisher for Review
Summary from GoodReads:

Rare-book theft is even more widespread than fine-art theft. Most thieves, of course, steal for profit. John Charles Gilkey steals purely for the love of books. In an attempt to understand him better, journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett plunged herself into the world of book lust and discovered just how dangerous it can be.

Gilkey is an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of rare books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the country. Ken Sanders is the self-appointed "bibliodick" (book dealer with a penchant for detective work) driven to catch him. Bartlett befriended both outlandish characters and found herself caught in the middle of efforts to recover hidden treasure. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, she has woven this entertaining cat-and-mouse chase into a narrative that not only reveals exactly how Gilkey pulled off his dirtiest crimes, where he stashed the loot, and how Sanders ultimately caught him but also explores the romance of books, the lure to collect them, and the temptation to steal them. Immersing the reader in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, Bartlett looks at the history of book passion, collection, and theft through the ages, to examine the craving that makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess the books they love.

John Gilkey is a book lover like none I have ever heard of before. In all honesty, his love actually more of an obsession than anything. And his story really made me question what it is to be a book lover. Is it an obsession? A psychological need to possess these books? As I read this novel, it really made me question myself as a book lover. Would I go to these extremes in order to have a certain book? Probably not, due to the respect that I have for books and their authors. But it was still fun to imagine myself being like that.

This fascinating read takes the reader into an often undiscussed part of the booking world: the dark side. The novel is filled with a little bit of everything, which really surprised me since this is a non-fiction novel. All in all, I was really surprised by this novel. It was a good change of pace from what I normally read.

Green Books Campaign: Journey to Atlantis

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

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Author: Philip Roy
Released: August 2009 by Ronsdale Press
Green Qualities: Published on recycled and FSC-certified paper
Copy Provided By: Publisher for Green Books Campaign
Summary from GoodReads:

In this sequel to his best-selling novel Submarine Outlaw from 2008, Alfred, the intrepid young submarine outlaw, once again sets out to sea in his homemade submarine. In Journey to Atlantis, Alfred and his crew (his dog Hollie and his second mate the seagull Seaweed) sail across the Atlantic and enter the Mediterranean in search of the fabled lost island of Atlantis. Alfred must be both practical and trust his premonitions on many occasions to stay safe on this ambitious and far-reaching adventure. From a daring rescue of drowning fishermen to becoming involved in a skirmish between Canadian coastguard ships and Spanish fishing trawlers, from escaping an exploding WWII sea mine to colliding with a partially submerged container filled with toys, from turning the chase on bumbling pirates to an unscheduled camel trek into the desert, Alfred's submarine voyage brings him closer and closer to the legendary island until one moonless night he finds himself a little too close for comfort.

This delightful novel begins with something I have always believed:

"The thing is, people have never stopped talking about it (Atlantis). That doesn't make sense. Why would people talk about something for so long if it never existed."

I must admit that I was very impressed with this novel. It was fast paced, and really fun to read. Al is a very insightful and curious lead character who seems to have this natural ability to get himself in (and out of) trouble. While some of his perils were a tad over the top, I still loved reading about them. Each event is full of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. All in all, Roy creates a wonderful tale that is sure to delight any child, while teaching them a valuable lesson or two.

Blog Tour: Bitter Night Review

Author: Diana Pharoah Francis
Released: October 2009 by Pocket Books
Copy Provided By: Publisher for blog tour
Summary from GoodReads:

SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. AND SOMETIMES, THEY CHOOSE YOU...

Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom...and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle's personal magic weapon -- a Shadowblade -- and she's lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before....The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances -- including one with a rival witch's Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him -- and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right -- if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is....

Similar to many first of the series novels, the beginning was a bit slow. However, this did not bother me since Francis took this time to intimately explore Max's world. By doing this, she ensures that the reader fully understands Max's situation and personality. Once this is established, Francis holds nothing back in this amazing novel. Her characters are very vibrant and fit into their roles perfectly. Max is outstanding heroine who kicks butt! In addition, Francis has created some of the most fully developed villains I have ever met. The reader cannot help but to "hate" them for their evilness, while at the same time admire them for their depth. These characters are not just one dimensional characters that Francis introduces us to you. You hate them, you love them, there is just so much emotion there. Bitter Night is the exciting start to an amazing series, and I cannot wait for more!


Want to see other thoughts on the novel? Check out these participating blogs:

Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
Debbie’s World of Books: http://debbiesworldofbooks.com
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Patricia’s Vampire Notes: http://patricias-vampire-notes.blogspot.com/
My Life in Not So Many Words: http://www.ziarias.blogspot.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/
The Eclectic Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/
Confessions Of A Romance Book Addict: http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com
The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object: http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
I Heart Book Gossip: http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/
Revenge of the Book Nerds: http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com
Jeanne's Ramblings: http://www.jeannesramblings.com
Fantasy Freak: http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/
Must Read Faster: http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com/
Jens Book Talk: http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/
The Bibliophilic Book Blog: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
My Adventures in Mommyland: http://musingmainiac.blogspot.com/
Parajunkee’s View: http://parajunkee.blogspot.com/
Crazy Books & Reviews: http://lindsayphotobook.blogspot.com/
The Book Tree: http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/

Branching Out (15)

Branching Out is an exciting feature which focuses on bloggers. Anyone can be a part of this, you just have to answer some simple questions for me, so that we can all get to know you better. This week my special guest is Jennifer of Justice Jennifer Reads:

Name/Screen Name: Justice Jennifer Reads
Blog: http://justicejenniferreads.wordpress.com
Age: 20

1. Tell us about your blog.
Justice Jennifer Reads is my very first blog which features book reviews and various bookish discussions. I also find myself discussing blogging in general a lot. I hope to expand the blog eventually to also include some movie and TV reviews - I'm an addict of both!


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?
I love the community. I've been at this for a little over a month and already there is so much support from fellow bloggers - everyone on here is just so nice! It's great to meet new people who have a passion for reading just like me. Plus, I find so many readers to be inspirational. Sometimes, I can't help but to push reading aside so I can sleep or spend some time catching up on TV, but having a great blogging community has helped me to push through and read more! My TBR list has grown exponentially since I've become a blogger and if I don't commit to reading at least a book a week, I fear I will miss out on reading so many great books.


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?
A really long book (like War and Peace), Pride and Prejudice, and Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty (this was so hard to decide - I wanted to bring all five Jessica D. Books!)


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?
I don't like to play favorites! Definitely don't have a favorite author, but I tend to lean toward chic lit when picking books.


5. What are you reading right now?
A young adult book for the Dog Ear Reading Challenge. It's called Just Ask by Melody Carlson (It's the first book in the Diary of a Teenage Girl series). I just started last night. So far so good. Hopefully I'll finish it tonight so I can jump into Now and Then.


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...
Reading, rock climbing, studying, watching a movie or tv, working ... the list could go on forever.


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.
There are so many already, I'm not sure where to start!

Savidge Reads: http://savidgereads.wordpress.com/
Absolutely wonderful blog with a lot of really interesting insights and reads.

Book, Line, and Sinker: http://www.booklineandsinker.com/
This is one of the first blogs I subscribed to once I figured out what google reader was. Not only are there awesome reviews, but there are some really great discussion posts and informative posts. I've learned a lot from reading this blog.

One Person's Journey Through a World of Books: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/
Not only is this blog jam packed with amazing reviews and giveaways, but it has a great title, a great layout, and a great creator. Can it get any better?

And of course: Neverending Shelf
Kate hosts a lot of awesome features that I really enjoy a lot. Plus, she has branched out to me, which is an honor. Thanks Kate for being so awesome! (you are so welcome)


8. 3 truths and a lie:
I love to be organized.

I am a college student majoring in Modern Art.

My favorite color is purple.

I dream of traveling to Italy, Spain, and England.

_________________________

Want the chance to win some cool book swag and maybe a book or two? All you have to do to enter is complete my entry form guessing which statement you believe is the lie. Two lucky winners will be randomly selected each month. Winners (and lies) will be announced at the beginning of the following month. Good Luck!