Remember Me?

No, I know you remember me. I'm talking about the book by Sophie Kinsella's book, Remember Me? I've read a few of Kinsella's books, and they are hilarious. I heard great things about this one, so I finally picked it up off my shelf.

Lexi is 25 years old and working an entry level position at a company where he best friend works. She has a loser boyfriend, her dad just died, and she didn't get the bonus she deserved at work. It seems as though her life is falling apart until she wakes up in a hospital. While in the hospital, Lexi learns that she was in a car accident and hurt her head badly. She soon discovers that three years have passed and she's not 25, she's 28. She's married to a gorgeous and wealthy man, they live in an amazing loft, and she is now a director in her company. Lexi has amnesia and doesn't remember the last three years of her life. Lexi has to try to adjust to her new life while her mind is still set in the past.

I really liked this book. It was a little predictable in parts, but it was still good. I really enjoyed the storyline. It's interesting having your main character have amnesia. I was learning about the MC the same time she was. This book was cute and funny and just a fun read. I'll definitely be reading more Kinsella in the future.

The Sea of Monsters

Okay, so I figured I would go ahead and read the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series since it was already overdue at the library. I seriously read it in one sitting. This books are so entertaining!

Percy and his friend Annabeth return to Half-blood camp for the summer. When they get there, the camp is in shambles. Monsters are attacking the campers and Percy's favorite teacher, Chiron has been fired. The magic protecting the camp has be compromised. The tree holding one of Zues's daughter, Thalia is dying. This tree is the main protection for camp. If it dies, the demigod will no longer be safe. Percy and his friends are set off to find the one magic thing that can save the future for all demigods.

This book was awesome! It had lots of twists and turns that kept me interested. I have fallen in love with the characters. I love how new characters were introduced and we got to visit with old characters. Riordan does and amazing job with introducing monsters and gods from mythology. I learn so much more about mythology than I ever knew. I can't wait to pick up the next book from the library!

The Lightning Thief

Yes, I am one of those old women who reads books about 12 year olds. What's your point? This is another book that I had to read before seeing the movie. I was so excited to read it because 1.) I've been in love with Greek Mythology since the 9th grade. 2.) I thought it would be sort of Harry Potter-esque, you know: young boys discovers something strange about himself and his parents, meets friends like him, saves the world type story. And 3.) The guy who plays Percy in the movie is HOTT!! So, I checked the book out from the library and dug in.

Perseus (Percy) Jackson is a 12 year old boy who is dyslexic and has ADD. He had been thrown out of six schools in six years. At his current school, things start to get really strange. Soon, he discovers that he is a demigod, half god half human. Percy is sent to Half-blood Camp for the summer to stay away from the mythological monsters that are after him. At camp, Percy discovers that Posidon, the god of the sea is his father. He also learns that he has been accused for stealing Zues's master lightning bolt. He must set off on a quest with his two new friends to set the gods straight and to clear his name.

This book was SO GOOD! I loved how the story had so many mythological refernces. It really makes me want to brush up on my knowledge of mythology. Percy and his friends were so brave and daring. The story was fun and mysterious. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, The Sea of Monsters.

Tangled

I've read a couple of Carolyn Mackler books in the past, so I thought I'd give this one a try too. After reading Shutter Island, I thought I'd dig into something light and fluffy.

Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all at the Paradise resort in the Caribbean. During this vacation, their lives will become tangled like none of the can ever predict. Jena is a bubbly, insecure girl who is looking for love. Dakota is a bad boy whose past will affect his future. Skye is a beautiful actress with a dark secret. Owen is a shy boy who only opens up on his blog. Four months after it begins, none of them will ever be the same.

This book was written from four points of view. I liked being able to learn about each character separately, and I liked each storyline, but I felt like there was something missing. I was really excited once I realized that I would get to read every one's POV and I couldn't wait until the end when it all came together. The problem is, it never really came together like I think it could have. This wasn't Mackler's best work, but it wasn't her worst either. I gave this book 3.5 stars.

Feeling out of sorts

I woke up this morning with a bad attitude. My head and body felt like I'd been wrestling with a grizzly bear all night. I had every intention in the world to get up and go to the gym for spin class. Of course, that didn't happen. I just could not get it together this morning.

Last month I started taking prescribed medicine for PMDD, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. The dosage is really small, but it does seem to be helping. Today though, I'm feeling the symptoms big time. I have no motivation to do...anything. I've been moody and emo and just out of sorts. I've only been taking the meds the week before and during my period. I may need to start taking them everyday so that they can stay in my system.

The funny thing is that the natural treatment for PMDD is eating right and exercising. This makes so much sense, but when your symptoms have you craving all sorts of food and not wanting to get out of the bed to exercise, it's kind of hard. I think I need to start setting goals for myself to help get this under control. This week (what's left of it) I plan to work out the next 2 days and to eat better. I also plan to start back working out at least 5 days a week. I decided to give up sodas and desserts for Lent. ::insert gasp here:: I'll keep you updated on my journey. Hopefully I can get a handle on this and not be dependent on my meds.

Shutter Island

I was a little apprehensive to read this book. I don't do scary AT ALL and I thought this would be scary. However, I'm one of those people who must read the book before seeing the movie. I was intrigued by the movie trailers and thought I'd give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. This book really wasn't that scary. It was suspenseful, but not scary.

Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane, is about Teddy, a U.S. Marshal who is sent to investigate a missing person from a mental hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. Teddy is left clues and works with his partner Chuck to try and find the missing woman. Nothing at the hospital is was it seems, and neither is Teddy. Eventually, Teddy and Chuck begin to fear that they may never get off that island.

You can usually rate most books by it's ending. If a book starts off slow but has a wonderfully unexpected ending, then it can be considered a great book. This is how I felt about Shutter Island. It took a few chapters for me to get into the book, but once I did, I was hooked. Like I said, the book was suspenseful and at moments had my heart racing. You never knew what to expect on the next page! If you plan on seeing the movie, check out the book first. If you don't plan on seeing the movie, read the book anyway.

Linger

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

BLOG AWARD!!

I can NOT believe I got a blog award! Thank you Angel over at The Simple Things... for the Beautiful Blogger Award!! You are so awesome and so is your blog!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank and link the person that gave you the award.

2. Pass this award on to 15 blogggers that you have recently discovered and think are fantastic!

Here is my list of Beautiful Blogger Award winners:

Amanda's Life Commentary- She cooks AND reads...enough said.

Great Books and Fresh Coffee- This girl is awesome! Some of the things she reads are books that I normally wouldn't pick up. Her blog motivates me to step outside of my box.

HollywoodWannaB- I cam across the blog while researching going to Costa Rica. This chick is cute and funny! I love her video blog entries.

Tastes, Tales, and Tours- Um, doesn't the title say it all?

Joelen's Culinary Adventures- No, I'm not in Chicago, but this blog helped me out BIG time when planning the menu for my Christmas party. I have used it a couple of times since then too! You need a new recipe? Check this blog out!

Steph Su Reads- This blogger has great giveaways and reads a ton of books!

Screw the Turtle, Isn't it time I win the race?- This is another funny blogger who keeps it real and makes me laugh.

Forever Young: A YA Lit Blog- This is one of my FAVORITE blogs. I read so many books that she recommends. Check this blog out. NOW.

Whimsical, Whamsical, Whumsical- This blogger and I have similar tastes in books. She is practically my reading twin.

Lovely Little Shelf- A great girl reads great books and blogs about them.

My Odd, Quirky (and Sometimes Brilliant) Ramblings- This blogger and I have something in common...trying to lose weight. Her struggles are my struggles.

Metamorphosis- This blogger is a fantastic PERSON and blogger! She has a great eye when it comes to snapping photos, and she is a reader after my own heart.

Because Perfection is Boring...- This blogger is like a role model to me. She is so witty and real. She's like a big sister on the interwebz.

Book Hooked- This girl is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She reads a lot of books that I've never heard of, but it motivates me to try new things.

What The Blog?- The blogger is just so full of awesomeness. She takes fabulous photos and is just a hilariously fun person!

I want to thank all of the winners for motivating me, making me laugh, and/or helping me the way that you do. You are all wonderful! Keep up the fantastically beautiful blogging!

Some Girls Are

So one of the girls in my online book club, Jessica, highly recommend this book to us. I've read Courtney Summers other book, Cracked Up to Be and I really liked it. So, I gave this one a try.

Regina is apart of the Fearsome Fivesome, the most popular girls in school. She's best friends with the ring leader until horrible rumors begin to spread about Regina. She is then "frozen out" of the group and bullyed by her ex-friends and classmates. Regina begins to depend a loner emo boy named Michael. She and Michael have past issues that cause a lot of tension between them. Can they get over their past and become friends? Will she work things out with the other members of the Fearsome Fivesome?

This novel was very different from any of the YA that I've read. The issues seemed to be things that happen in real schools to real students. Issues that are talked about enough.

I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed me from the beginning and I read it in one sitting. I recommend reading both of Summers' books. Her writing shows teenagers in a different, more realistic light. She does not sugar-coat what goes on behind the walls of a high school. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you like YA or even if you don't, pick it up and give it a try. You won't regret it.

Startled by His Furry Shorts

Oh Georgia, how you make me laugh.

I've been reading the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison for a while now. It's very cute and fluffy and just fun to read. Georgia is a self-centered teen who's life is dominated by her friends and boys. If I am ever feeling down and need a laugh, I can depend on Georgia to make me full of laughosity. I laugh like a laughing thing in laughland when reading one of her books.

I totally recommend this series to anyone with a sense of humor. They are great to read in between serious and/or long books. The books are very quick reads and will brighten any one's day.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson Tour

I was so lucky to be apart of the amazing idea that Jessica had over at Reading is Sexy. You can read about the details there.

Initially, I had no idea what Will Grayson, Will Grayson was about. All I knew was that it was written by John Green (one of my favorite authors) and David Levithan (someone I've heard great things about.) I try to keep an open mind when picking books to read; thank goodness for that!

This book is full of awesomeness! I laughed so much while reading it that my husband thought I was going insane. The characters are so real and loveable. I read a lot of YA books and sometimes the storylines can get repetitive and predictable. This was NOT the case with Will Grayson, Will Grayson. The storyline is completely orignal and inspiring. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. This book isn't just for young adults, it's for everyone. The message is incredible and the delivery is amazing. I can't wait to own my own copy!